Adipose tissue gene expression in adult rats fed with highfructose diet. Effects of EPA supplementation

Abstract

The study of the expression of genes involved in obesity‐related disorders has been promising for a better understanding of the links between components of the metabolic syndrome.Our aim was to measure the effects of a high‐fructose diet on metabolic status and on the mRNA expression of several genes involved in insulin‐signaling pathway, and glucido‐lipid metabolism in rats, and to assess the effects of EPA supplementation.Rats were given for 10 wk either a control or a high‐fructose diet (65% fructose cal), supplemented or not with EPA (120 mg/d). At the end of the 10‐wk period, body composition and IS were assessed, lipid plasma were assayed, and mRNA expression of insulin receptor, IRS1, perilipin, leptin, ACC, FAS, HSL, LPL, GLUT, TNFα, SREBP‐1c, PPARγ was semi‐quantified from adipose tissue biopsies.In high‐fructose rats, IS tended to be lower, plasma triglyceride level tended to be higher, and Glut4 expression was lower than in control rats. In rats fed with high‐fructose diet plus EPA, plasma NEFA concentration was lower, and PPARγ and FAS mRNA levels were higher than in rats fed with unsupplemented high fructose diet.Our results show change in Glut4 expression in rats fed highfructose diet that could reflect an alteration of glucose uptake, and impair systemic IS. They also show that EPA could stimulate transcription of PPARγ and its target gene FAS that could account for its beneficial effect on lipidemia.