Figure 2

Detailed plasma cholesterol analyses in the Lean and Fat mice. A. Total plasma cholesterol concentrations. Although cholesterol biosynthesis genes showed increased expression in the liver of Lean mice (Table 3), total blood plasma cholesterol concentration was not significantly different to the Fat mice. Average concentrations of total plasma cholesterol (mg/dl) standard errors are displayed. B. Ratio of HDL-cholesterol to total plasma cholesterol. Beneficial HDL-cholesterol is significantly (*P < 0.05) increased in Lean mice. Average ratios and standard errors are displayed. C. Ratio of nonHDL-cholesterol to total plasma cholesterol. nonHDL-cholesterol was a derived parameter obtained by subtracting total plasma cholesterol from HDL-cholesterol. As HDL-cholesterol is markedly elevated in Lean mice (Figure 2B), consequently the Lean mice have significantly (*P < 0.05) lower ratio of atherogenic nonHDL-cholesterol to total plasma cholesterol. Average ratios and standard errors are displayed. D. FPLC analysis of total plasma lipoproteins. Cholesterol distribution among lipoproteins was obtained by separation of the major lipoprotein classes (VLDL, IDL+LDL, and HDL) by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). This analysis determined in the Lean line a higher peak in the HDL fraction as well as a shift of HDL particles towards increased fraction elution number, suggesting that both the size and concentration of plasma HDL lipoproteins are elevated in Lean mice