Fig. 8

Hypothetical scheme showing major steps involved in sex-specific differences in the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis in SHROB rats. Both female and male SHROB rats elicit hyperphagia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperlipidemia. Activation of hyperinsulinemia-induced signaling pathways leads to induction of genes that regulate de novo lipogenesis. Several genes that control lipid metabolism are highly expressed in male and female SHROB rat livers. Expression of Cd36 and Pnpla3 genes was differentially regulated in female and male SHROB rats, leading to milder and severe hepatic steatosis, respectively