Female rats do not develop sucrose-induced insulin resistance.

In male rats, 2 wk of high-sucrose feeding results in insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia [Pagliassotti, M.J., P.A. Prach, T.A. Koppenhafer, and D.A. Pan. Am. J. Physiol. 271 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 40): R1319-R1326, 1996]. The present study aimed to determine if female rats also become insulin resistant and hypertriglyceridemic in response to high-sucrose feeding. Female Wistar rats (7 wk old) were fed either a high-sucrose diet (68% energy) (SU) or a high-starch diet (68% energy) (ST) for 3, 5, or 8 wk. In each animal, glucose kinetics were measured using [3-(3)H]glucose under basal and hyperinsulinemic conditions (insulin infusion 4.0 mU.kg-1.min-1). Body weight and basal glucose kinetics were not different between diet groups at 3, 5, or 8 wk. Glucose infusion rate (mg.kg-1.min-1) was not different between groups (3 wk: 17.7 +/- 1.6 ST, 16.6 +/- 0.9 SU; 5 wk: 16.1 +/- 0.9 ST, 15.1 +/- 2.0 SU; 8 wk: 18.3 +/- 1.9 ST, 16.1 +/- 1.5 SU). Clamp rate of glucose appearance (mg.kg-1.min-1) was also not different between diet groups (3 wk: 4.0 +/- 1.6 ST, 3.6 +/- 1.4 SU; 5 wk: 2.6 +/- 1.0 ST, 2.3 +/- 1.14 SU; 8 wk: 5.9 +/- 1.8 ST, 7.7 +/- 1.2 SU). No difference was observed in plasma and tissue triglycerides or tissue glycogen between sucrose- and starch-fed animals. We therefore conclude that female rats, in contrast to males, do not develop sucrose-induced insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia.

Reduced insulin suppression of glucose appearance is related to susceptibility to dietary obesity in rats.

To examine the relationship between insulin action and body weight regulation in male rats, the following studies were performed. In study 1, rats (n = 31) were fed a low-fat diet (LFD) for 4 wk, and then glucose kinetics were estimated under basal and hyperinsulinemic conditions using the glucose clamp. After clamps, these same rats were placed on a high-fat diet (HFD) for 5 wk. In study 2, rats (n = 30) were fed an LFD for 3 wk and then a high-sucrose diet for 1 wk to produce selective hepatic insulin resistance. Clamps were then performed, and after clamps, these same rats were placed on an HFD for 5 wk. In study 3, rats (n = 30) were fed an LFD for 1 wk and then a high-sucrose diet for 3 wk to produce widespread insulin resistance. Clamps were then performed, and after clamps, these same rats were placed on an HFD for 5 wk. The rate of glucose appearance (R(a)) during the hyperinsulinemic clamps was the only pre-HFD variable that correlated (r = 0.49, P < 0.01 in study 1; r = 0.51, P < 0.001 in study 2) with weight gain on the HFD. Clamp R(a) also correlated with energy intake on the HFD in study 1 (r = 0.64, P < 0.001) and study 2 (r = 0.59, P < 0.001). Clamp R(a) and energy intake on the HFD accounted for similar portions of the variance in body weight gain on the HFD. Weight gain and fat-pad mass were increased (P < 0.05) in study 2 compared with study 1. In study 3, pre-HFD glucose kinetics were not correlated with energy intake or weight gain on the HFD. Widespread insulin resistance did not significantly reduce the rate of weight gain on the HFD. Thus insulin action on R(a) can influence body weight gain on an HFD. The effects of R(a) on body weight gain appear to be mediated via effects on energy intake. Selective hepatic insulin resistance can increase body weight gain on an HFD, but widespread insulin resistance does not significantly reduce HFD-induced weight gain.

Contribution of energy intake and tissue enzymatic profile to body weight gain in high-fat-fed rats.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the enzymatic profile [phosphofructokinase (PFK), beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HADH), and citrate synthase (CS)] in gastrocnemius muscle, heart, and liver in rats allowed ad libitum access to a high-fat diet (HFD, 45% of kcal from corn oil). Male Wistar rats were fed a low-fat diet (LFD, 12% of kcal from corn oil) for a 2-wk baseline period after which some continued on the LFD and others were placed on the HFD. After 1 wk on the HFD, rats were categorized as obesity-resistant (OR), -intermediate (OI), or -prone (OP) on the basis of body weight gain (OR, lower tertile; OI, middle tertile; OP, upper tertile). At 1, 2, and 5 wk, rats from each group were killed (n = 9-14 from each group/time point) after a 24-h fast. At the end of the 5-wk dietary period, weight gain was 114.8 +/- 4.3 in LFD, 125.2 +/- 3.7 in OR, 147.1 +/- 4.1 in OI, and 173.7 +/- 3.5 g in OP rats (OP > OI > OR, LFD; P < 0.001). Energy intake was highly correlated with weight gain on the HFD at each time point (r > or = 0.72, P < 0.001). After 1 wk on the HFD, significant correlations between the ratio of PFK/HADH (an indication of the relative capacity for glycolysis vs. beta-oxidation, r = 0.4, P = 0.03) and HADH/CS (an indication of the capacity for beta-oxidation relative to total oxidative capacity, r = -0.56, P = 0.001) in the gastrocnemius muscle and weight gain were observed. At week 2, significant correlations between these ratios and weight gain were observed in the gastrocnemius, liver, and heart. In contrast, these ratios were not significantly correlated with weight gain at 5 wk. These results suggest that rats most susceptible to weight gain or a HFD are characterized by a continuous increase in energy intake (explaining approximately 50% of the variance in weight gain) and an early tissue enzymatic profile that favors carbohydrate over fat use.

Changes in insulin action, triglycerides, and lipid composition during sucrose feeding in rats.

In the present study, the time course of change in sucrose-induced insulin resistance, triglyceride (TG) concentration, and liver fatty acid composition was examined. Male rats (n = 8-10/group per time point) was fed a high-starch (ST) diet for 2 wk and were then equicalorically fed ST or a high-sucrose (SU) diet for 1, 2, 5, or 8 wk. Body weight and percent body fat were similar between ST and SU diets at all time points. Glucose infusion rate (GIR) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the SU diet (9.2 +/- 0.9, 7.4 +/- 0.5, 6.2 +/- 1.0, and 6.0 +/- 0.9 mg.kg-1.min-1) vs. the ST diet (15.1 +/- 1.7, 15.7 +/- 0.7, 14.7 +/- 1.9, and 14.2 +/- 0.9 mg.kg-1.min-1) at 1, 2, 5, and 8 wk, respectively. Reduced suppression of glucose appearance accounted for 85, 50, 45, and 40% of the reduction in GIR at these same time points. Muscle glycogen synthesis was reduced (P < 0.05 vs. ST diet) in the SU diet at 2, 5, and 8 wk. Fasting plasma TG concentration was inversely related (r = -0.79, P < 0.001) to muscle glycogen synthesis, and liver TG concentration was positively related (r = 0.59, P < 0.01) to glucose appearance. Liver fatty acid composition was similar between diet groups. In summary, the SU diet produced insulin resistance in liver before muscle. TG concentration appears to be related to sucrose-induced insulin resistance in liver and muscle.