title: Adipose tissue remodeling in rats exhibiting fructose-induced obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect of a fructose-rich diet on morphological and functional changes in white adipose tissue (WAT) that could contribute to the development of insulin resistance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult sedentary rats were fed a fructose-rich diet for 8 weeks. Glucose tolerance test was carried out together with measurement of plasma triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids and lipid peroxidation. In subcutaneous abdominal and intra-abdominal WAT, number and size of adipocytes together with cellular insulin sensitivity and lipolytic activity were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rats fed a fructose-rich diet exhibited a significant increase in plasma insulin, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids and lipid peroxidation, together with significantly increased body lipids and epididymal and mesenteric WAT, compared to controls. Mean adipocyte volume in subcutaneous abdominal WAT was significantly lower, while mean adipocyte volume in intra-abdominal WAT was significantly higher, in rats fed a fructose-rich diet compared to controls. A significant increase in larger adipocytes and a significant decrease in smaller adipocytes were found in intra-abdominal WAT in rats fed a fructose-rich diet compared to controls. Insulin's ability to inhibit lipolysis was blunted in subcutaneous abdominal and intra-abdominal adipocytes from fructose-fed rats. Accordingly, lower p-Akt/Akt ratio was found in WAT in rats fed a fructose-rich diet compared to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term consumption of high levels of fructose elicits remarkable morphological and functional modifications, particularly in intra-abdominal WAT, that are highly predictive of obesity and insulin resistance and that contribute to the worsening of metabolic alterations peculiar in a fructose-rich, hypolipidic diet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Edificio 7, Via Cinthia, 80126, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crescenzo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzoli
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valiante
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liverini
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iossa
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D048429:Cell Size; D004032:Diet; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005632:Fructose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000166:cytology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008066:Lipolysis; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D005632:Fructose