Massive bowel resection modulates the expression of genes involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism in rats.

We have previously shown that vitamin A-absorptive function was enhanced in bowel-resected rats via increased expression of cellular retinol-binding protein II (CRBP II). Recently, CRBP II was shown to bind not only to retinol but also to monoacylglycerols to modulate gut endocrine signaling. We hypothesized that the increased CRBP II in bowel-resected rats had broader effects than vitamin A metabolism. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (fatty-acid biosynthesis) and sterol O-acyltransferase 1 (cholesterol esterification) expressions were down-regulated in the bowel-resected rats. Adjustment of nutritional absorption may take place in a limited area of the small intestine by the modulation of gene expression.