Table 2.
Effects of dietary fructose and marginal copper deficiency on metabolic phenotypes in female rats
| Variable | CuA (n = 7) |
CuAF (n = 8) |
CuM (n = 7) |
CuMF (n = 8) |
P value of factors (two-way ANOVA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body weight (BW, g) | 235.4 ± 13.7 | 220.5 ± 14 | 217.7 ± 17.4 | 220.0 ± 18.6 | NS |
| BW gain (g) | 181.2 ± 14.1 | 166.1 ± 13.1 | 163.1 ± 18.1 | 167.2 ± 18.1 | NS |
| Liver weight (LW, g) | 7.5 ± 0.55 | 7.66 ± 0.95 | 6.86 ± 0.77 | 6.92 ± 0.81 | Cu, p = 0.0256 |
| LW/BW (%) | 3.184 ± 0.114 | 3.469 ± 0.26* | 3.144 ± 0.133# | 3.114 ± 0.167# |
Cu, p = 0.0061 Cu × F, p = 0.025 |
| White adipose weight (WAT, g) | 2.961 ± 0.944 | 3.354 ± 0.792 | 2.256 ± 0.504 | 3.523 ± 1.309 | F, p = 0.0239 |
| WAT/BW (%) | 1.251 ± 0.364 | 1.512 ± 0.285 | 1.032 ± 0.195 | 1.571 ± 0.532 | F, p = 0.0067 |
| Energy efficiency ratio (EER, %) | 6.35 ± 0.50 | 5.22 ± 0.41* | 6.07 ± 0.67# | 5.36 ± 0.58* | F, p < 0.0001 |
| Cecum weight (g) | 2.233 ± 0.333 | 1.887 ± 0.489 | 2.107 ± 0.637 | 1.997 ± 0.276 | NS |
| Food consumption (g/rat/day) | 13.55 ± 1.47 | 10.17 ± 0.84* | 12.77 ± 1.12# | 10.39 ± 1.06*$ | F, p < 0.0001 |
| Water intake (ml/rat/day) | 23.05 ± 3.92 | 45.91 ± 14.32* | 24.46 ± 4.31# | 41.0 ± 12.18*$ | F, p < 0.0001 |
| Energy intake (Kcal/rat/day) | 50.96 ± 5.54 | 56.87 ± 6.89 | 48.01 ± 4.20# | 55.74 ± 6.41 | F, p = 0.0031 |
| Plasma TG (mg/dL) | 26.15 ± 4.74 | 39.71 ± 11.84 | 19.29 ± 6.14# | 38.7 ± 13.43$ | F, p = 0.0001 |
| Plasma Cholesterol (mg/dL) | 28.47 ± 23.6 | 36.91 ± 18.28 | 29.78 ± 11.89 | 43.76 ± 12.97 | NS |
| Plasma NEFA (μM) | 202.4 ± 33.9 | 289.6 ± 73.6 | 232.4 ± 72 | 267 ± 77.7 | F, p = 0.0205 |
| Plasma glucose (mg/dL) | 111.5 ± 3.8 | 142.7 ± 28.1* | 110 ± 8.3# | 140.5 ± 21.8*$ | F, p = 0.0001 |
Male and female weanling Sprague-Dawley rats from the Harlan Laboratories (Indianapolis, IN) were fed (ad lib) a modified AIN-93G purified rodent diet with defined copper content in the form of cupric carbonate for 8 weeks. The copper content is 6 mg/kg in an adequate copper diet (DYET# 115612) and 1.5 mg/kg in a marginal copper deficient diet (DYET# 115581), respectively. Animals had free access to either deionized water or deionized water containing 10% fructose (w/v) as the only drink during the 8-week experiment. The animals were single housed in stainless steel cages rinsed with EDTA in a temperature and humidity-controlled room with a 12:12-h light–dark cycle. Data are expressed as means ± SD (n = 7–8) and analyzed by two-way ANOVA testing factors of copper (Cu), fructose (F), and interactions (Cu × F), followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test. Statistical significance was set to p ≤ 0.05. P values are displayed for the factors Cu, F, and Cu × F. NS, p > 0.05. * versus CuA; # versus CuAF; $ versus CuM
CuA adequate copper diet, CuM marginal copper deficient diet, CuAF adequate copper diet +10% fructose drinking, CuMF marginal copper deficient diet +10% fructose drinking, TG triglyceride, NEFA nonesterified fatty acids