Dietary freshwater clam (Corbicula fluminea) extract suppresses accumulation of hepatic lipids and increases in serum cholesterol and aminotransferase activities induced by dietary chloretone in rats

Abstract

We investigated the ameliorative effect of freshwater clam extract (FCE) on fatty liver, hypercholesterolemia, and liver injury in rats exposed to chloretone. Furthermore, we examined the effects of major FCE components (fat and protein fractions) to determine the active components in FCE. Chloretone increased serum aminotransferase activities and led to hepatic lipid accumulation. Serum aminotransferase activities and hepatic lipid content were lower in rats fed total FCE or fat/protein fractions of FCE. Expression of fatty acid synthase and fatty acid desaturase genes was upregulated by chloretone. Total FCE and fat/protein fractions of FCE suppressed the increase in gene expression involved in fatty acid synthesis. Serum cholesterol levels increased twofold upon chloretone exposure. Total FCE or fat/protein fractions of FCE showed hypocholesterolemic effects in rats with hypercholesterolemia induced by chloretone. These suggest that FCE contains at least two active components against fatty liver, hypercholesterolemia, and liver injury in rats exposed to chloretone.

Graphical abstract

Freshwater clam extract (FCM) suppresses accumulation of hepatic lipids and liver cell injury induced by xenobiotics.

Key words:

• Chloretone
• freshwater clam extract
• fatty liver
• liver injury
• xenobiotic

Acknowledgment

We received no specific grants from other institutions.

Notes

Abbreviations: Abc, ATP-binding cassette; ANOVA, analysis of variance; apo, apolipoprotein; CCl₄, carbon tetrachloride; Cyp, cytochrome P-450; Fads, fatty acid desaturase; Fasn, fatty acid synthase; FCE, freshwater clam extract; G6PD, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; GC/MS, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; H & E, hematoxylin and eosin; Me, malic enzyme; PCB, polychlorinated biphenyl; qRT-PCR, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; ROS, reactive oxygen species; Srebf, sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor; TNF, tumor necrosis factor.