Fructose-rich diet induces gender-specific changes in expression of the renin-angiotensin system in rat heart and upregulates the ACE/AT1R axis in the male rat aorta.
BACKGROUND
The cardiovascular renin-angiotensin system (RAS) could be affected by gender and dietary regime. We hypothesized that male rats will be more susceptible to activation of RAS in the heart and aorta, as a response to a fructose-rich diet (FRD).


METHODS
Both male and female Wistar rats were given a 10% (w/v) fructose solution for 9 weeks. We measured the biochemical parameters, blood pressure (BP) and heart rate. We used Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to quantify protein and gene expression.


RESULTS
In the male rats, the FRD elevated BP and expression of cardiac angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), while the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and angiotensin II Type 2 receptor (AT2R) were significantly decreased. In female rats, there were no changes in cardiac RAS expression due to FRD. Furthermore, the ACE/AT1R axis was overexpressed in the FRD male rats' aortae, while only AT1R was upregulated in the FRD female rats' aortae. ACE2 expression remained unchanged in the aortae of both genders receiving the FRD.


CONCLUSIONS
The FRD induced gender-specific changes in the expression of the RAS in the heart and aortae of male rats. Further investigations are required in order to get a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms of gender-specific fructose-induced cardiovascular pathologies.
Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Maja M
MM
Bundalo
Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Maja D
MD
Zivkovic
Laboratory for Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Snjezana Dj
SDj
Romic
Laboratory for Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Snezana N
SN
Tepavcevic
Laboratory for Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Goran B
GB
Koricanac
Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Tamara M
TM
Djuric
Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia alexas@vinca.rs.
Aleksandra D
AD
Stankovic
D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000378:metabolism*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*
D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2; D005632:Fructose; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; C000705329:Ace2 protein, rat; D000085962:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
Angiotensin-converting enzyme; angiotensin receptor; aorta; diet; fructose; gender differences; heart; protein expression; rat; renin–angiotensin system