Fructose fed rats (FFR)

Model advantages

The development of metabolic abnormalities induced by a fructose-enriched diet in rats is similar to what is observed in humans following an increased consumption of high-fructose corn sweetener (HFCS). Indeed, these HCFS is likely a decisive contributing factor to the development of obesity and the accompanying metabolic abnormalities observed in the insulin resistance syndrome.

Pathophysiological features

Metabolic features :

Hypertriglyceridemia
Hypercholesterolemia
Hyperinsulinemia
Insulin resistance and exaggerated hyperglycaemic response to glucose overload
Elevated urinary 8-isoprostanes (lipid peroxidation)

Cardiovascular features:

Vascular endothelial dysfunction (aorta and superior mesenteric artery) (figure 1)

Figure 1: Comparison of endothelium-dependent relaxations obtained in in vitro experiments performed in aortic rings. (2-way ANOVA, ***P<0.001) (From Oudot et. al. 2008).

Exaggerated blood pressor response in vivo in conscious unrestrained animals (figure 2)

Figure 2: Concentration response curves to increasing doses of norepinephrine infusion (0 to 400 ng/kg/min) on mean arterial pressure (MAP) measured in vivo in conscious animals [control and fructose-fed rats (FFR)] (From Oudot et al. J Physiol Res 2008).

Summarized methodology

Wistar rats are placed on a control or an isocaloric fructose-enriched diet containing 60% fructose and 5.2% lard for the following 9 weeks to allow the metabolic abnormalities to develop.

Related Pelvipharm bibliography

Oudot, A. et al.
J Sex Med (2010) : 7(1)p1:79-88

Oudot, A. et al.
Physiol Res (2009) : 58(4):499-509

Behr-Roussel, D. et al.
Eur Urol (2008) : 53(6):1272-1281

Behr-Roussel, D. et al.
Am J Hypertens (2008) : 21(11):1258-1263

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