2.5.2. Plasma lipids
Blood samples were taken from mice tails and heart. After heart puncture blood was collected into 2 ml containers and centrifuged (5702/R, Eppendorf, Hauppauge, USA) at 1500 g at 4◦ C for 10 min. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) levels were analyzed (using kits supplied by AMP diagnostics, Austria,) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) was calculated (Friedewald et al. 1972).