Intestine-specific LDLR overexpression improves metabolic function. (A) Transgenic mice on normal chow diet have lower body weight compared with wild-type controls. (B) When challenged with an HFHC diet, transgenic animals exhibit a dramatic loss of body weight, but the animals do not become sick or cachectic. (C and D) There was no difference in food intake either on a (C) normal chow or (D) HFHC diet. (E) Body composition was performed with DEXA and showed a decrease in both fat and lean body mass in transgenic animals compared with controls. Both groups were on an HFHC diet from weaning and for 10 wk. (F and G) There was no difference in (F) oxygen consumption and (G) respiratory exchange ratio (RER) between the two groups on an HFHC diet. (H) Fecal cholesterol and (I) total lipid contents were increased in transgenic mice. Statistics: n = 4 to 15 per group; t test, two-way repeated measures ANOVA for assessment of differences of body weight curves and energy expenditure data. *P < 0.05. TG, C57BL/6-TG(Vil-LDLR) transgenic mice; WT, wild-type littermate controls.