Fig. 5.
Hepatic expression of FXR-VP16 significantly improves hyperglycemia in db/db mice. (A) Nine-week-old female db/db mice were transfused with adenovirus expressing VP16 alone (open bars) or FXRα2-VP16 (filled bars) by tail vain injection (n = 6 per group). Plasma glucose levels were determined after a 6-h fast on the indicated day after infection. (B) Hepatic mRNA levels were determined by Northern blot assay (Inset) or real-time PCR in db/db mice on day 13 after adenoviral injection. (C) Plasma insulin levels in db/db mice transfused with the indicated adenovirus were measured on day 13 after a 6-h fast. (D) Glucose tolerance test (GTT). db/db mice were transfused with the indicated adenovirus and, on day 7, they were fasted for 16 h before a GTT (n = 6 per group). (E) Determination of phosphotyrosine (pY) levels of hepatic IRS-1 and IRS-2. (F) Determination of hepatic phosphorylated GSK3β and glycogen levels. *, P < 0.05 and **, P < 0.01 versus db/db mice transfused with VP16.