title: Female rats are protected against fructose-induced changes in metabolism and blood pressure.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether the effects of a fructose diet, which causes hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and hypertension in male rats, are dependent on sex. Blood pressure was measured via the tail-cuff method, and oral glucose tolerance tests were performed to assess insulin sensitivity. Blood pressure in female rats did not differ between fructose-fed and control rats at any time point (126 +/- 5 and 125 +/- 3 mmHg at week 9 for fructose-fed and control rats, respectively) nor was there a difference in any metabolic parameter measured. Furthermore, the vascular insulin resistance that is present in male fructose-fed rats was not observed. After ovariectomy, fructose caused a significant change in systolic blood pressure from baseline compared with fructose-fed ovary-intact rats (change of 21 +/- 5 vs. -2 +/- 4 mmHg). The results demonstrate that females do not develop hypertension or hyperinsulinemia upon fructose feeding except after ovariectomy, suggesting that female sex hormones may confer protection against the effects of a fructose diet.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada V6T 1Z3.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galipeau
authors.forename: Subodh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: McNeill
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D012737:Sex Factors; D013995:Time; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D005632:Fructose; D009638:Norepinephrine