title: Alpha lipoic acid attenuates high-fructose-induced pancreatic toxicity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic consumption of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) causes several problems such as insulin resistance. The goal of the study was to investigate pancreatic damage induced by chronic HFCS consumption and the protective effects of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) on pancreatic cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar Albino, 4-month-old, female rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly distributed into three groups, each containing eight rats. The study included an HFCS group, an HFCS + ALA-administered group and a control group (CON). The prepared 30% solution of HFCS (F30) (24% fructose, 28% dextrose) was added to the drinking water for 10 weeks. ALA treatment was begun 4 weeks after the first HFCS administration (100 mg/kg/oral, last 6 weeks). Rats were anaesthetised and euthanised by cervical dislocation 24 h after the last ALA administration. Blood samples for biochemical tests (amylase, lipase, malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT)) and tissue samples for histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations (caspase-3, insulin and glucagon) were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing the control and HFCS groups, serum glucose (150.92 ± 39.77 and 236.50 ± 18.28, respectively, p < 0.05), amylase (2165.00 ± 150.76 and 3027.66 ± 729.19, respectively, p < 0.01), lipase (5.58 ± 2.22 and 11.51 ± 2.74, respectively, p < 0.01) and pancreatic tissue MDA (0.0167 ± 0.004 and 0.0193 ± 0.006, respectively, p < 0.05) levels were increased, whereas tissue CAT (0.0924 ± 0.029 and 0.0359 ± 0.023, respectively, p < 0.05) activity decreased in the HFCS group significantly. Histopathological examination revealed degenerative and necrotic changes in Langerhans islet cells and slight inflammatory cell infiltration in pancreatic tissue in the HFCS group. Immunohistochemically there was a significant decrease in insulin (2.85 ± 0.37 and 0.87 ± 0.64, respectively, p < 0.001) and glucagon (2.71 ± 0.48 and 1.00 ± 0.75, respectively, p < 0.001) secreting cell scores, whereas a greater increase in caspase-3 (0.14 ± 0.37 and 1.00 ± 0.75, respectively, p < 0.05) expression was seen in this group compared with the controls. In the ALA-treated group, all of these pathologic conditions were improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated HFCS induced pancreatic lesions, but ALA had ameliorative effects.
authors.affiliation: Pamuklale University, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Senay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Topsakal
authors.affiliation: Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Burdur, Turkey. Electronic address: ozlemozmen@mehmetakif.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozmen
authors.affiliation: Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma Nihan
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Cankara
authors.affiliation: Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Bucak School of Health, Department of Nursing, Burdur, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sukriye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yesilot
authors.affiliation: Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bayram
authors.affiliation: Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nilüfer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Genç Özdamar
authors.affiliation: Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sümeyra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kayan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D066248:High Fructose Corn Syrup / Q000633:toxicity*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D066248:High Fructose Corn Syrup; D008063:Thioctic Acid
keywords: Alpha lipoic acid; High-fructose corn syrup; Immunohistochemistry; Oxidative stress; Pancreas; Pathology