Age- and Sex-dependent Effects of High-fructose, High-fat Diets on Small Bowel Inflammation and Hepatic Steatosis in F344 Rats.

ABSTRACT:

Background/aims

The liver and small bowel are closely interrelated, and their diet-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) may also be influenced by age and sex. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of age and sex on hepatic steatosis and small bowel inflammation induced by a high-fructose and high-fat diet (HFHFD) in rats.

Methods

Male and female rats, aged 6 weeks (young) and 2 years (aged), were used. The HFHFD groups were provided with a high-fat diet and high-fructose water for 8 weeks. Liver and small bowel tissues were histologically analyzed. Tight junction protein expression in jejunal mucosa was analyzed, and immunohistochemistry was performed to detect claudin-2 (Cldn-2).

Results

The histological infl

SUBMITTER: Ha S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12527957 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature