FEMALE RATS DO NOT DEVELOP SUCROSE-INDUCED INSULIN-RESISTANCE

In male rats, 2 wk of high-sucrose feeding results in insulin resistan ce and hypertriglyceridemia [Pagliassotti, M. J., P. A. Prach, T. A. K oppenhafer, and D. A. Pan. Am. J. Physiol. 271 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 40): R1319-R1326, 1996]. The present study aimed to de termine if female rats also become insulin resistant and hypertriglyce ridemic in response to high-sucrose feeding. Female Wistar rats (7 wk old) were fed either a high-sucrose diet (68% energy) (SU) or a high-s tarch diet (68% energy) (ST) for 3, 5, or 8 wk. In each animal, glucos e kinetics were measured using [3-H-3]glucose under basal and hyperins ulinemic conditions (insulin infusion 4.0 mU . kg(-1). min(-1)). Body weight and basal glucose kinetics were not different between diet grou ps at 3, 5, or 8 wk. Glucose infusion rate (mg . kg(-1). min(-1)) was not different between groups (3 wk: 17.7+/-1.6 ST, 16.6+/-0.9 SU; 5 wk : 16.1+/-0.9 ST, 15.1+/-2.0 SU; 8 wk: 18.3+/-1.9 ST, 16.1+/-1.5 SU). C lamp rate of glucose appearance (mg . kg(-1). min(-1)) was also not di fferent between diet groups (3 wk: 4.0+/-1.6 ST, 3.6+/-1.4 SU; 5 wk: 2 .6+/-1.0 ST, 2.3+/-1.14 SU; 8 wk: 5.9+/-1.8 ST, 7.7+/-1.2 SU). No diff erence was observed in plasma and tissue triglycerides or tissue glyco gen between sucrose- and starch-fed animals. We therefore conclude tha t female rats, in contrast to males, do not develop sucrose-induced in sulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia.