[Effects of resveratrol on the morphology of lipid droplets and the expression of lipid droplet-associated proteins in mouse primary hepatocytes].

AIM

To investigate the effects of resveratrol on the morphology of lipid droplet (LD) and the expression of lipid droplet-associated proteins in primary hepatocytes of mice.

METHODS

We isolated and cultured the primary hepatocytes of mice using collagenase perfusion. The primary hepatocytes were stimulated with 200 μmol/L oleic acid (OA) for 12 h, and then added with 0 (control), 20, 50, 100 μmol/L resveratrol, respectively. Another 12 h later, we utilized Bodipy 493/503 staining to observe the morphology and amount of intracellular lipid droplets under fluorescence microscope. The Folch method and triglyceride (TG) quantitative kit were used to extract the total intracellular lipids and determine the TG contents. Western blotting was applied to analyze the expression levels of perilipin, adipophilin and TIP-47.

RESULTS

Compared with the control, the size and amount of lipid droplets in primary hepatocytes were reduced after treated with different concentrations of resveratrol. The quantitative analysis showed that the intracellular TG contents decreased markedly in a dose-dependent manner, but the most significant decrease was in 50 μmol/L resveratrol group. Western blotting showed that resveratrol reduced the expressions of perilipin, adipophilin and TIP-47 in the primary hepatocytes, especially the perilipin.

CONCLUSION

Resveratrol could inhibit intracellular lipid accumulation, which is most significant in 50 μmol/L concentration. The inhibiting effect of resveratrol may be caused by mediating the expression levels of lipid droplet-associated proteins in primary hepatocytes of mice.