Obeticholic Acid Protects against Gestational Cholestasis-Induced Fetal Intrauterine Growth Restriction in Mice

Figure 1

OCA pretreatment activated FXR signaling. All pregnant mice except controls were s.c. injected with E2 (0.625 mg/kg) once daily from GD13 to GD17. In the OCA and OCA+E2 groups, pregnant mice were administered with OCA (5 mg/kg) by gavage once daily from GD12 to GD17. All dams were sacrificed 4 hours after the last administration of OCA. (a, b) Hepatic and placental nuclear FXR were measured using immunoblot. Representative gels were shown. (a) Hepatic nuclear FXR/Lamin A/C. (b) Placental nuclear FXR/Lamin A/C. (c, d) Nuclear translocation of hepatic and placental FXR was analyzed using IHC. (c) Representative photomicrographs were shown. Original magnification: ×400. Nuclear translocation of FXR was observed in hepatocyte (arrows). (d) Representative photomicrographs were shown. Original magnification: ×400. Nuclear translocation of FXR was observed in mononuclear sinusoidal TGCs of the labyrinth zone (arrow). (e) Hepatic and placental FXR-positive cells were analyzed. (f–h) Cyp7a1, Cyp8b1, Bsep, Mdr2, and Mrp2 mRNA were measured using real-time RT-PCR. (f) Relative mRNA levels in maternal liver. (g) Relative mRNA levels in placenta. (h) Relative mRNA levels in fetal liver. Quantified data were expressed as of six samples from six different pregnant mice. , .

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