Oral solution of fructose promotes SREBP-1c high-expression in the hypothalamus of Wistar rats

Objective: We evaluate whether the consumption of fructose for 8 weeks affects enzymes and transcription factors of the lipogenic and inflammatory pathways in the hypothalamus of Wistar rats.Methods: At 30 days, the animals were divided into groups: Control (C) and Fructose (F) and maintained with free access to feed and filtered water (C) or aqueous solution of purified fructose at 20% (F). RT–PCR and Western blotting were performed for the target genes and proteins.Results: In F group, results showed a lower feed intake, an increase in glycemia (146.20 ± 6.09 vs. 102.32 ± 4.58; n: 9) and triacylglycerol (F: 191.65 ± 13.51 vs. C: 131.69 ± 6.49; n: 9) and there was no difference in water and energy consumption. We identified a higher content of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) (F: 133.93 ± 5.58 vs. C: 100 ± 0.0; n: 9–10) and NFκB (F: 125.5 ± 8.85 vs. C: 100 ± 0; n: 14) in group F, whereas fatty acid synthase (FAS) was lower (F: 85.90 ± 4.81 vs. C: 100 ± 0.0; n: 4–6). SREBP-1c gene expression was higher in F vs. C group (F: 4.08 ± 0.44 vs. C: 1.13 ± 0.15; n: 5–6), although we did not found difference between groups in the gene expression for ACC, SREBP-2, and NFκB.Discussion: Dietary fructose can change important lipogenic and inflammatory factors in the hypothalamus of rats and it leads to regulation of transcription factors before changes in body mass are evident.