Fig. 5.

OCA treatment did not affect serum cholesterol levels and fecal cholesterol content in hamsters fed a NCD. Male hamsters fed a NCD were treated by daily gavage with vehicle (n = 6) or 10 mg/kg OCA (n = 6) for 14 days. Fasting serum samples were collected before the treatment (day 0) and at day 7 and day 14. Feces were collected on day 0 and day 13 of treatment, dried, and weighed. Hamsters were euthanized and serum and livers were isolated at the termination of the experiment. A, B: TC and HDL-C were measured from all serum samples. C, D: Lipids were extracted from individual liver samples, and TC and TG and were measured. Values are mean ± SEM of six hamsters per group. **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001 as compared with the vehicle control group. E, F: Lipids were also extracted from dried feces and TC and BAs were measured. Values are mean ± SEM of three fecal samples per group. **P < 0.01 as compared with the control group.