Dose-dependent effect of fenofibrate on hepatic fibrinogen mRNAs and plasma fibrinogen levels. Adult male rats were treated with 0.005%, 0.05%, or 0.5% of fenofibrate ([wt/wt] in rat chow) for 7 days and compared with animals on rat chow only. Total RNA was extracted from livers and analyzed by Northern blotting for fibrinogen A-, Bβ-, and γ-chain mRNA and ACO mRNA. Equal loading was checked by hybridizing with an 18S rRNA cDNA probe. Plasma fibrinogen levels were measured as described in Materials and Methods. Data shown are from a representative experiment with four animals per experimental group. (A) Representative Northern blot analysis of fibrinogen (Fbg) A-, Bβ-, and γ-chain mRNA, ACO mRNA, and 18S rRNA. (B) Signals for the three fibrinogen chain mRNAs and ACO mRNA were quantified by densitometry and adjusted for the corresponding rRNA signals. Data are expressed relative to that found in untreated animals. Results are means ± SD of four animals. (C) Plasma fibrinogen data are means ± SD of four animals. Statistically significant differences (P < .05) are indicated by an asterisk; # P = .13.