INCLUSION OF A LEGUME IN A SATURATED FAT-RICH DIET AFFECTS THE CHOLESTEROL STATUS BUT NOT THE EXPRESSION OF TRIIODOTHYRONINE AND RETINOIC ACID RECEPTORS IN RAT-LIVER

In a previous study, we showed that a high-fat diet, rich in saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, induced hypercholesterolemia and, in rat liver, a decreased expression of TR and RAR, nuclear receptors which are transcription factors for genes involved in cell growth, different iation and cellular homeostasis. The aim of this study was to determin e whether hypercholesterolemia plays a role in the onset of this decre ased expression. Rats were fed a high-fat diet, rich in saturated fatt y acids and cholesterol, for 3 weeks and then received in addition Vic ia faba for 2 weeks. The inclusion of the legume induced a decrease in hypercholesterolemia (in agreement with numerous data) but did not af fect the underexpression of TR or RAR (expression evaluated as the max imum binding capacity of receptors and as the abundance of mRNA of the se receptors). Thus, it is suggested that, at least in this experiment al model, hypercholesterolemia plays a minor role in the decreased exp ression of nuclear receptors in rat liver.