(P10-024-23) Cd36 and Adipor1 Genes As Biomarkers of NAFLD Development in Male and Female C57bl6/N Mice With a High Sucrose Diet

Objectives: Assess the effects of a high sucrose diet on CD36 and AdipoR1 gene expression in male and female C57BL6/N mice.

Methods: Forty male and female C57bl6/N mice were randomly divided into four experimental groups: a Control male group (CMG) and females (CFG) were fed with a standard diet and water, as well as a sucrose male group (SMG) and female (SFG) that received standard diet and a 50% sucrose solution. After 20 weeks, serum was used to measure biochemical determinations (glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides) and liver tissue for hepatic triglyceride measurement and histopathological analysis. RNA extraction was performed from liver tissue samples with the trizol reagent. Subsequently, the samples were retrotranscribed with Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus Reverse Transcriptase (M-MLV RT) to obtain cDNA. The expression of CD36 and AdipoR1 genes was analyzed using TaqMan probes. β actin as a reference gene was used. The results were expressed as relative expression.

Results: A high sucrose diet caused higher total cholesterol, HDL, and glucose values in male and female mice. Regarding serum triglycerides, the SFG group had a lower concentration than hepatic triglycerides, suggesting a possible migration of lipids to the liver. The histopathological analysis determined moderate to high NAFLD in females (SFG), while males (SMG) showed mild to moderate NAFLD. CD36 gene expression increased in male and female mice with a high sucrose diet compared to the control group. instead, the expression of Adipor1 decreased significantly in females with a high sucrose diet.

Conclusions: A high sucrose diet contributes to NAFLD development in male and female C57bl6/n mice, with greater progression to NASH observed in females. It was a gender significant difference observed between the groups.

Funding Sources: National Council for Science and Technology in Mexico