Effects Of Earthworm Lyophilized Powder On The Expression Of Key Enzyme Genes In Cholesterol Metabolism In Mice

The aim of the study is to investigate the modulating effects and mechanism of earthworm lyophilized powder on the cholesterol metabolism in experimental mice. The mice of 18-22g were randomly divided into five groups, the mice in normal group were fed with standard feeds, the mice in hyperlipidemic group were fed with high-level lipid feeds, and the other three experimental groups were fed with high-level lipid feeds while being treated with earthworm lyophilized powder at dosages of 0.4g/kg,0.2g/kg,0.1g/kg mice weight respectively. After 10 weeks, the contents of Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglycerol (TG), High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C) Hepatic lipase(HL)in hepar were measured. In the end of experiment, six samples of mice in each group were killed and their livers were rapidly extracted then plunged into liquid nitrogen immediately. The samples were stored for the determination of HMG-CoAR, CYP7AI, LPL and LCAT mRNA levels by RT-PCR.The results showed that different dosages of earthworm lyophilized powder decreased the levels of serum TC, TG, LDL-C and increased the level of serum HDL-C markedly. It also showed that earthworm lyophilized powder decreased the activity of HL in mice hepar significantly. Earthworm lyophilized powder up-regulated CYP7AI、LPL and LCAT mRNA expression, while down-regulated hepatic HMG-CoAR expression markedly.