Fig. 2.

Betaine supplementation attenuated fat accumulation in the liver induced by prolonged high-sucrose feeding. A: hepatic triglyceride content. C57BL/6 mice were fed with high-sucrose diet in the presence or absence of betaine supplementation (1%) in drinking water for 16 wk. Data are means ± SD (n = 8). Bars with different letters differ significantly (P < 0.05). B: formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded liver sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Livers from SD-fed animals had normal architecture. In contrast, livers from HS-fed animals had obvious fat infiltration with no inflammation or obvious cell death observed. Betaine supplementation groups had significantly less fat accumulation in the liver compared with HS-fed animals. Original magnification ×130. C: flash-frozen liver sections were stained with Oil Red O. SD-fed animals had no obvious fat accumulation in the liver. HS feeding resulted in profound hepatic steatosis, featured by remarkable amount of fat droplet in the liver. Betaine supplementation significantly alleviated hepatic fat accumulation induced by HS diet feeding.