Atorvastatin remodels lipid distribution between liver and adipose tissues through blocking lipoprotein efflux in fish.

The regulation of cholesterol metabolism in fish is still unclear. Statins play important roles in promoting cholesterol metabolism development in mammals. However, studies on the role of statins in cholesterol metabolism in fish are currently limited. The present study evaluated the effects of statins on cholesterol metabolism in fish. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were fed on control diets supplemented with three atorvastatin levels (0, 12, and 24 mg/kg diet, ATV0, ATV12, and ATV24, respectively) for 4 wk. Intriguingly, the results showed that both atorvastatin treatments increased hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride contents mainly through inhibiting bile acid synthesis and efflux, and compensatorily enhancing cholesterol synthesis in fish liver (P < 0.05). Moreover, atorvastatin treatment significantly inhibited hepatic very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) assembly and thus decreased serum VLDL content (P < 0.05). However, fish treated with atorvastatin significantly reduced cholesterol and triglycerides contents in adipose tissue (P < 0.05). Further molecular analysis showed that atorvastatin treatment promoted cholesterol synthesis and lipogenesis pathways, but inhibited lipid catabolism and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake in the adipose tissue of fish (P < 0.05). In general, atorvastatin induced the remodeling of lipid distribution between liver and adipose tissues through blocking VLDL efflux from the liver to adipose tissue of fish. Our results provide a novel regulatory pattern of cholesterol metabolism response caused by atorvastatin in fish, which is distinct from mammals: cholesterol inhibition by atorvastatin activates hepatic cholesterol synthesis and inhibits its efflux to maintain cholesterol homeostasis, consequently reduces cholesterol storage in fish adipose tissue.

[Optimize the extraction process with supercritical CO2 fluid from lotus leaves by the uniform design and analysis on the chemical constituents by GC-MS].

OBJECTIVE: To study the optimum parameters of the supercritical CO, fluid extraction of lotus leaves and chemical constituents of extractive matters. METHODS: Supercritical CO2 fluid extraction condition was selected by uniform design. The extraction pressure, extraction temperature, extraction time were three factors in the experiment. GC-MS was applied for analyzing the extraction. RESULTS: The optimum condition were obtained: the extraction pressure was 26 Mpa, the extraction temperature was 40 degrees C, the extracion time was 90 minutes. The major constituent was 1H-Pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde, 1-ethyl-in extractive matters. CONCLUSION: Uniform design can optimize the CO2 Supercritical Fluid Extraction process quickly and accuratly with satisfactory results.