Lactobacillus plantarum improves lipogenesis and IRS-1/AKT/eNOS signalling pathway in the liver of high-fructose-fed rats

Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the influence of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus helveticus supplementation on lipogenesis, insulin signalling and glucose transporters in liver of high-fructose-fed rats. Fructose was given to the rats as a 20% solution in drinking water for 15 weeks. Lactobacillus plantarum and L. helveticus supplementations were performed by gastric gavage once a day during final 6 weeks. Dietary high-fructose increased hepatic weight, lipid accumulation and FASN expression as well as caused a significant reduction in IRS-1 expression, pAKT/total AKT and peNOS/total eNOS ratios, but an elevation in GLUT2 and GLUT5 mRNAs in the liver. Lactobacillus plantarum supplementation decreased hepatic weight, triglyceride content and FASN expression as well as improved IRS-1/AKT/eNOS pathway and GLUT2 expression in the liver of high-fructose-fed rats. However, L. helveticus supplementation exerted a restoring effect on lipid accumulation by decreasing FASN expression, and regulating effect on IRS-1 and GLUT2 expressions.

Keywords:

• Dietary fructose
• fatty liver
• insulin signalling
• Lactobacillus plantarum
• Lactobacillus helveticus

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Aytaç Kocabaş for his contributions to the study in the preparation of the probiotic bacteria.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that no conflict of interest occurs for this work.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by grants from the Gazi University Research Fund under Grant [02/2018-14].