Impact of Different Doses of Sucrose on the Liver Function and Ultrastructure in Rats, MOHAMED D. MORSY, HESHAM A. ABDEL-RAZEK, REFAAT A. EID and WAFFAA M. HASSAB EL-NABY
Abstract
A global change in dietary habits has occurred over the last few decades resulting from introduction of sweeteners such as sucrose and fructose by food industries. In the current study, effect of different doses of sucrose diet on biomarkers of hepatic function and insulin resistance, and on histology and ultrastructure of liver were investigated in rats. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats, 1400-1800g each, were equally randomized into four groups, control (C), S10, HS30 and HS60 groups, which were taken 0%, 10%, 30% and 60% sucrose diets, respectively, by oral gavage, daily for 14 weeks. At the end of the experiment, retro-orbital fasting blood samples were collected for measuring serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL, albumin, fetuin-A, glucose and insulin levels. The HOMA index was calculated. Animals were then sacrificed and whole body and liver weights, and visceral, epididymal and retroperitoneal fats were estimated, and the liver/body weight ratio was calculated. Liver tissue was homogenized for estimation of gamma-glutamyl trans-ferase (GGT), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate ami-notransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. A histopathological analysis by light microscope and micrographing of ultrastructure by electron microscope of the liver tissue were processed.
S 10 group did not show any significant variation in all the previously mentioned parameters, except for the increase of body weight. Both HS30 and HS60 groups showed a significant increase in body and liver weights, liver/body weight ratio, fasting serum cholesterol, TG, SDL, fetuin-A, glucose and insulin levels and in HOMA index, as well as in homogenate GGT, ALT, AST, ALP, TNF-a and IL-6 levels and MPO activity, compared to C and S 10 groups; fasting serum albumin and HDL were significantly reduced. Micro-graph of liver of S 10 group showed minimal changes from the normal animals. Changes in the biomarkers mentioned above were significantly more in HS60 group than in HS30 one. Both light and electron microscopic pictures in HS30 and HS60 groups showed deleterious changes of liver tissue; changes were more prominent in HS60 group.
In conclusion, daily 30% and 60% high sucrose diets for 14 weeks severely injured hepatic tissue, even at the hepato-cytes ultrastructure level, and progressed its inflammatory response in rats. The degree of hepatic injury by high sucrose diet is not only dependent on how long, but also on the dose of sucrose administrated.