RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Preparing rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by fat-rich diet to observe the expression and the role of LXR-alpha in rat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six SD rats were randonmized into basic diet-control group and high-fat diet group. Each of the two groups was subdivided into 3 subgroups (4, 8, 12 weeks). Changes in animal weight, liver exponent and the level of TG and TC in serum and liver were observed dynamically. Meanwhile,the expression of hepatocyte LXR-alpha and SREBP-1c were assayed by Reverse transcript-polymerase chain reaction at 4, 8, 12 weeks. The level of steatosis was observed under light microscope after haematoxylon-eosin (HE) staening.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, body weight, liver exponent, TG and Tc in serum and liver were increased dynamically in model groups. Compared with control group, the mRNA of LXR-a and SREBP-1c were obviously increased dynamically in model groups (P < 0.05) .</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increase of LXR-alpha and SREBP-1c in liver may be concered with energy disorder and closely associated with the activity of inflammation and the severity of the liver damage in NAFLD rats.</p>