Experimental study on effect of epigallcatechin gallate on caveolin-1 expression in rats fed a high-fat diet

AIM: To investigate the effects of epigallcatechin gallate (EGCG) on high-fat diet-related obesity and on vascular caveolin-1 (Cav-1) expression. METHODS: Male Wistar rats weighing 170-190 g were randomly divided into three groups: one group fed with a high-fat diet for 15 weeks, the second group fed with a high-fat diet plus EGCG ［5 mg/(kg·day)］ by abdominal cavity injection and the control group fed with a general diet for 15 weeks. Weight, serum glucose and lipid concentrations were measured and Cav-1 expression was determined using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: A high-fat diet up-regulated Cav-1 and these effects were partially reversed in EGCG group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that EGCG down-regulates Cav-1 expression in rats fed a high-fat diet, which may result from the molecular mechanism of tea in amelioration of endothelial function and prevention of angiocardiopathy.