Fig 1. Liver gene expression of LDLR and PCSK9 in ovariectomized rats treated with rosuvastatin.

Liver mRNA (A) and protein expression (D, E) of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) are, respectively, reduced and increased in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats either in sedentary (Sed) and trained (Tr) states without significant effects of rosuvastatin (Ros) treatment, whereas hepatic mRNA (F) and plasma levels (G) of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) were decreased in Ovx rats either in Sed and Tr states and increased with Ros treatment. Values for mRNA as determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction are expressed as a ratio of the control value (1.0) and are mean ± SD (standard deviation) with n = 8–10 rats per group. Hprt1 (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase 1) and b-actin were used as endogenous controls. *p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01 significantly different from Sham-Sed-Sal. ^§p < 0.05; ^§§p < 0.01 significantly different from respective Saline (Sal) group. Protein abundance in liver of rats were determined by Western blot analysis and normalized to those of b-actin. Quantification (C) of proteins bands in (B) with n = 4 rats/group. Quantification (E) of proteins bands in (D) with n = 1 to 2 rats/group. The % changes indicated (E) are in comparison to the Sham-Sed-Sal group.