Figure 8. Effects of hepatic GATA4 expression in L-Bmal1^−/−Apoe^−/− mice.

L-Bmal1^−/−Apoe^−/− mice (n=8, each group) were transduced with (1.5 × 10¹¹ p.f.u.) Adv-GFP (white square) or Adv-GATA4 (black square) and started on a Western diet. After 4 weeks, plasma and liver were collected for different analysis. (a) mRNA and protein levels of indicated proteins in the liver. (b) Hepatic MTP activity was measured in mice transduced with different viruses. (c) Triglyceride and cholesterol in total plasma, HDL and non-HDL. (d) Liver cholesterol and triglyceride were quantified. (e) Amount of ³H-cholesterol excreted into the bile after intravenous injections. (f) Amounts of cholesterol found in the bile, feces and liver 48 h after the placement of ³H-cholesterol-loaded macrophages in the peritoneum during RCT. (g) Atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic branches were exposed, photographed (left) and lesion areas were quantified (right). Scale bar, 2 mm. (h) Aortas were stained for lipids and lesion areas were quantified. Scale bar, 5 mm. Data in a–f were evaluated using the unpaired Student's t-test. Data in g and h were analysed by one-way ANOVA. Values are mean±s.d., n=8 per group. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001. Error bars represent s.d.