Metabolic effects of large fructose loads in different parts of the rat nephron

Abstract

Rats were given large parenteral loads of fructose and the different segments of single nephrons then analyzed for fructose metabolites, fructose metabolizing enzymes, and nucleotide high energy phosphates. Fructokinase and fructose-1-P aldolase activities, and all the major metabolite and nucleotide effects, were confined to the proximal tubule. The proximal straight segment had the highest fructokinase and suffered the greatest changes. In this segment, fructose-1-P rose to 60 mmol/kg (dry weight basis) and glycerol-3-P and glucose-6-P reached 8 and 12 mmol/kg, respectively. ATP fell 80% and GTP (judging from the changes in GTP plus GDP) fell by the same percentage, but UTP was less affected. Total adenylate decreased 50%. In the proximal convoluted tubule, where fructokinase was lower and fructose-1-P aldolase higher than in the straight segment, fructose-1-P rose ony one-fourth as much and glucose-6-P was almost unchanged. In contrast, glycerol-3-P rose more, reaching 16 mmol/kg. Other substances measured along the nephron were glycerol-3-P dehydrogenase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, fructose, glucose, fructose bisphosphate, triose phosphate, and 6-P-gluconate. Control ATP levels were found to be highest in the distal tubule.