Downregulation of hepatic albumin mRNA in response to induced hypercholesterolemia in rabbits.

Albumin gene expression was studied in rabbits fed on a cholesterol-rich diet for up to 16 weeks. Livers from experimental animals showed extensive lipid deposition. Hepatic albumin mRNA abundance decreased along the treatment to very low levels after 16 weeks. An 8-fold decrease in the rate of transcription of this gene was also detected. This downregulation of albumin gene expression cannot be attributed to a general impairment of RNA synthesis, as expression of other liver-specific and housekeeping genes did not vary significantly. There was a decrease in ascitic fluid albumin levels after 10 weeks, although serum albumin levels remained unchanged throughout the treatment. Our results are discussed in view of the relationship of albumin levels with hypercholesterolemia.