Insulin Resistance Induced by Short term Fructose Feeding may not affect Fertility in Female Rats

Abstract

Fructose feeding causes insulin resistance and invariably Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) in rats and genetically predisposed humans. The effect of insulin resistance induced by short term fructose feeding on fertility in female rats was investigated using the following parameters: oestrous phase and length of oestrous cycle, total number of implantation and resorption sites, and weight of foetus. 14 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The control group was fed with normal rat chow, while the experimental group was fed with a special diet made up of 25% fructose mixed with 75% normal rat chow for a period of 4 weeks. They all had free access to water. Blood glucose level in both groups before pregnancy and during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy was very significant (P < 0.001). The length of the oestrous cycle in the control group was 3.28 ± 0.22 days (mean ± SEM), while in the fructose fed group it was 3.57 ± 0.24 days (mean ± SEM). This slight difference was not significant. The oestrous phase occurred approximately twice during the period of monitoring the oestrous cycle. There was no significant difference in the foetal count, average foetal weight, implantation and resorption sites (P > 0.05) in both groups. The results show that insulin resistance induced by short term fructose feeding does not disrupt the length of the oestrous cycle and has no effect on fertility in female rats.


KEYWORDS: Insulin resistance, Oestrous cycle, fertility


Nig. Jnl Health & Biomed. Sciences Vol.3(1) 2004: 17-19