Seasonal Consumption of Cherries from Different Origins Affects Metabolic Markers and Gene Expression of Lipogenic Enzymes in Rat Liver: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

The phytochemical composition of fruits, especially polyphenols, depends on the environmental conditions under which these fruits are cultivated and the agronomic practices followed. Therefore, the consumption of fruits from different origins, with different polyphenol signatures, could have differential effects on health. In addition, recent studies have shown that variation in the biological rhythms due to changes in the photoperiod in the different seasons differentially affect the metabolism in animal models, thus conditioning their response to food consumption. Considering all, this article evaluates the effects of consumption of sweet cherry from different sources, local (LC) and non-local (nLC), on plasma metabolic parameters and the gene expression of key enzymes of lipid metabolism in Fischer 344 rats under photoperiods simulating different seasons. Animals were classified into three photoperiods (L6, L12 and L18) and three treatments (LC, nLC and VH). Both the photoperiod and the treatments significantly affected the evaluated parameters. An effect of the photoperiod on triacylglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids and the mRNA concentration of crucial enzymes from the hepatic lipid metabolism was observed. Furthermore, the consumption of fruit in L12 lowered blood glucose, while the different treatments affected the hepatic expression of genes related with lipidic enzymes.

Keywords: liver lipogenic enzymes; photoperiods; polyphenols; seasonality; xenohormesis.

Figure 1

Gene expression of liver lipogenic enzymes. The mRNA levels of Acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (Acc1) (A) and fatty acid synthase (Fas1) (B) of male Fischer 344 rats treated for 7 weeks with vehicle (VH), non-Local cherries (nLC) or Local (LC), and exposed to different photoperiods (short; L6, standard; L12 or long; L18). Values expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 8). The values were normalized by the L18-VH group. P, photoperiod effect; T, treatment effect; P x T, photoperiod effect and treatment. (two-way ANOVA, p < 0.05). Different letters above the bars indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) (post-hoc DMS, one-way ANOVA). $ significant effect of treatment in the same photoperiod (Student’s t-test). * indicate trend (0.05 < p < 0.1). #* indicates trend (0.05> p > 0.1) with Student's t-test.

Figure 2

Gene expression of liver protein and enzyme. The mRNA levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (srebp-1c) (A) and Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 α (cpt1α) (B), of male Fischer 344 rats treated for 7 weeks with vehicle (VH), non-Local cherries (nLC) or Local (LC), and exposed to different photoperiods (short; L6, standard; L12 or long, L18). Values expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 8). The values were normalized by the L18-VH group. P, photoperiod effect (two-way ANOVA, p < 0.05). Different letters above the bars indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) (post-hoc DMS, one-way ANOVA). # effect of the same treatment compared between different photoperiods (Student’s t-test). * indicate trend (0.05 < p < 0.1).

Figure 3

Gene expression of liver enzymes related to lipid metabolism. The mRNA levels of hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (Had) (A), fatty acid transporter 5 (Fatp5) (B) and fatty acid translocase homolog of CD36 (Cd36) (C), of male Fischer 344 rats treated for 7 weeks with vehicle (VH), non-Local cherries (nLC) or Local (LC), and exposed to different photoperiods (short; L6, standard; L12 or long; L18). Values expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 8). The values were normalized by the L18-VH group.