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. 2017 Aug 11;7:7927. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-08513-w

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Inhibition of COMT exacerbates glucose tolerance defects in mice fed the HFD for 2 weeks. (a) Western blot analysis of COMT protein in the liver of HFD condition. The protein lysate (20 µg) was separated in polyacrylamide gels and transferred onto a PVDF membrane. The immunoreactive bands were analyzed using the ECL method. Representative blots from six independent experiments are shown. Cropped images were displayed and original blots are shown in the figure Supplementary 10. Quantification by densitometry is shown and reveals a significant reduction of the COMT protein level in mice fed an HFD for 2 weeks. N = 8 from each group were analyzed. Relative COMT gene expression by qPCR analysis in the liver of HFD mice expressing unaltered mRNA level. N = 6 from each group were analyzed. (bd) The body, liver weight, and epididymal fat weights and fasting blood glucose levels were analyzed in control, HFD, COMT inhibitor (Ro41-0960)-treated HFD mice (HFD + Ro41-0960) and 2-ME intervened COMT inhibitor-treated HFD (HFD + Ro41-0960 + 2-ME) mice groups. N = 8 were analyzed in each mice group. (e) 6 hours fasting blood glucose levels were analyzed in control, HFD, COMT inhibitor (Ro41-0960)-treated HFD mice (HFD + Ro41-0960) and 2-ME intervened COMT inhibitor-treated HFD (HFD + Ro41-0960 + 2-ME) mice groups. N = 8 in each group. (f) IPGTT analysis. N = 8 were analyzed in each mice group. (g) The quantitative determination of glucose tolerance defects represented by the area under curve (AUC) value. (h) Insulin levels determined by ELISA. The insulin level was analyzed in triplicate by a sandwich ELISA method. N = 8 were analyzed in each mice group. (i) The AUC value of the insulin level. (j) Insulin resistance Index. The results are shown as the mean ± s.e.m. COMT inhibitor (Ro41-0960) was designated as Ro in the figure. N = 8 were analyzed in each mice group. Prism7.0 software was utilized for the statistical calculation. The Mann-Whitney test was carried out to determine of statistical significance.