Figure 4.

Cluster images illustrating genes sensitive to HCA-SX supplementation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats supplemented with HCA-SX (10 mg/kg body weight) once every day, 5 times a week for 8 weeks (n = 7). The rats had free access to regular diet and water ad libitum. The control group was gavaged with matching volume of water and was given regular diet and water ad libitum. At the end of 8 weeks, rats were killed and abdominal adipose tissue was collected. GeneChip microarray analysis was performed on the RNA extracted from the abdominal adipose tissue. For a clear graphic display of HCA-SX-sensitive genes, t-test was performed on data from control animals (4, 5, & 6) and from animals in the HCA-SX-supplemented groups (1, 2, & 3). Each of the six lanes represents data from one animal. The genes that significantly (p < 0.05) changed between the two groups compared were selected and subjected to hierarchial clustering using dChip software as described in Figure 3. Red to green gradation in color represents higher to lower expression signal. (A) Upregulated or (B) downregulated genes in response to HCA-SX supplementation compared with placebo group.