Analysis of sex differences in dietary copper-fructose interaction-induced alterations of gut microbial activity in relation to hepatic steatosis

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

ISSN: 2042-6410