Fig. 1.

Cd36^−/− mice are protected against gallstones, and Cd36 deletion confers protection in L-Fabp^−/− mice (DKO mice) after 4 weeks of LD feeding. A: Hepatic CD36 and L-Fabp protein expression were determined by Western blotting of total liver extracts. CD36 protein was not detected in either Cd36^−/− mice or DKO liver, and L-Fabp protein was likewise not detected in either L-Fabp^−/− or DKO liver as predicted. B: Representative gross appearances of gallbladder after 4 weeks of LD feeding. Gallbladders from WT and L-Fabp^−/− mice appear opaque with visible solid stones, whereas gallbladders from Cd36^−/− mice and DKO are transparent without visible stones. Gallstone incidence (C) and gallstone score (D) were significantly reduced in both Cd36^−/− mice and in DKO mice. E: Gallbladder volume was determined gravimetrically (Materials and Methods). F: Cholesterol saturation index (CSI) of gallbladder bile was calculated as described in Materials and Methods. Cd36^−/− and DKO mice demonstrate a similar decrease in CSI compared with WT and L-Fabp^−/− mice, n = 6–12 mice per group. The data associated with different superscript letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). The data reflect the mean ± SE. *Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05).