Fig. 2.

Cholesterol synthesis is increased in statin-treated mice. A: Statin treatment leads to increased total body cholesterol synthesis measured by the incorporation of ¹³C-acetate into the cholesterol molecule over a period of 72 h. B: Hepatic cholesterol synthesis is highly increased after statin treatment, compared with the proximal, middle, and distal parts of the small intestine using deuterium water. C: mRNA levels of Hmgcr in the liver are increased, however, not in the small intestine. D: Hepatic HMGCR protein concentrations were increased after statin treatment. n = 6–7 animals per group. * P < 0.05 compared with control. AS, atorvastatin; CTRL, control; LS, lovastatin; RS, rosuvastatin.