Fig. 3

Effect of supplemental C. butyricum on cholesterol and BA metabolism of IUGR suckling piglets. A The mRNA abundance of genes related to cholesterol synthesis and efflux. B The mRNA abundance of genes related to BA synthesis and excretion. C The protein levels of LXRα, CYP7A1 and CYP27A1. The column and its bar represented the means value and SE (n = 8), respectively. Significant difference is depicted as ^*P < 0.05 when compared with NBW-CON, ^#P < 0.05 when compared with IUGR-CON group. SREBF2, sterol-regulatory element binding factor 2; LXRα, liver X receptor α; ABCA1, ATP-binding cassette transporter A1; ABCG1, ATP-binding cassette transporter G1; ABCG5, ATP-binding cassette transporter G5; ABCG8, ATP-binding cassette transporter G8; SCARB1, scavenger receptor B class I; CYP7A1, cholesterol 7 α-hydroxylase; CYP27A1, cholesterol 27 α-hydroxylase; CYP7B1, Cytochrome P450 Family 7 Subfamily B Member 1; CYP8B1, Cytochrome P450 Family 8 Subfamily B Member 1; BSEP, bile salt export pump; MRP2, multidrug resistance associated protein 2; NBW-CON, piglets with normal birth weight; IUGR-CON, piglets with intrauterine growth restriction; IUGR-CB, piglets with intrauterine growth restriction supplemented with Clostridium butyricum