Fructose-Drinking Water Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Ultrastructural Alteration of Hepatocyte Mitochondria in Male Wistar Rat.
BACKGROUND
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the complications of the metabolic syndrome. It encompasses a wide range of disease spectrum from simple steatosis to liver cirrhosis. Structural alteration of hepatic mitochondria might be involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD.


OBJECTIVE
In the present study, we used a newly established model of fructose-induced metabolic syndrome in male Wistar rats in order to investigate the ultrastructural changes in hepatic mitochondria that occur with fructose consumption and their association with NAFLD pathogenesis.


METHODS
The concentration of fructose-drinking water (FDW) used in this study was 20%. Six male Wistar rats were supplemented with FDW 20% for eight weeks. Body composition and metabolic parameters were measured before and after 8 weeks of FDW 20%. Histomorphology of the liver was evaluated and ultrastructural changes of mitochondria were assessed with transmission electron micrograph.


RESULTS
After 8 weeks of fructose consumption, the animals developed several features of the metabolic syndrome. Moreover, fructose consumption led to the development of macrovesicular hepatic steatosis and mitochondrial ultrastructural changes, such as increase in mitochondrial size, disruption of the cristae, and reduction of matrix density.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that in male Wistar rat 8-week consumption of FDW 20% leads to NAFLD likely via mitochondrial structural alteration.
Discipline of Anatomy, Basic Medical Science Cluster, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh Campus, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
Norshalizah
N
Mamikutty
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Zar Chi
ZC
Thent
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Farihah
F
Haji Suhaimi
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry; D005632:Fructose; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D060766:Drinking Water; D005632:Fructose