Figure 1.

Feeding increases serum RBP4 protein expression and promotes hepatic Rbp4 mRNA translation. A: mice were fasted overnight, and the next morning were either fed for 90 min or remained fasted. Serum RBP4 concentrations were evaluated by Western blotting. B: total Rbp4 mRNA abundance was evaluated by RT-PCR. C: hepatic ribosomes were fractionated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Representative tracings are shown. D: hepatic ribosomes were separated into heavy (4 or more ribosomes) or light (3 or fewer ribosomes) fractions, and RNA from each fraction was subjected to RT-PCR analysis. Values are means ± SD. *P < 0.05 versus fasted. RBP4, retinol-binding protein 4.