FRUCTOSE METABOLIZING ENZYMES IN THE RAT-LIVER AND METABOLIC PARAMETERS - INTERACTIONS BETWEEN DIETARY COPPER, TYPE OF CARBOHYDRATES, AND GENDER

This study was conducted to determine the effects of nutrient interact ions between dietary carbohydrates and copper levels on fructose-metab olizing hepatic enzymes in male and female rats. Male and female rats were fed diets for 5 weeks that were either adequate or deficient in c opper that contained either starch or fructose. Rats of both sexes fed fructose as compared with those fed starch showed higher activity of hepatic fructose metabolizing enzymes. There were also significant dif ferences in fructose metabolism of liver between the male and female r ats. Female rats had lower hepatic ketohexokinase and triose kinase bu t higher triosephosphate isomerase activities compared with male rats. Male rats fed copper-deficient diets had lower aldolase B activity co mpared with those fed copper-adequate diets. Female rats fed copper-de ficient diets had higher triosephosphate isomerase activity compared w ith rats fed copper-adequate diets. Our data suggest that gender diffe rences in hepatic fructose metabolism may not be the primary reason fo r the severity of copper deficiency syndrome in male rats fed copper-d eficient diet with fructose.