Moderate exercise prevents insulin resistance and changes in adrenocortical morphology and function in rats fed a sucrose-enriched diet

Introduction: a sustained elevation of glucocorticoid production has been associated with the somatic and biochemical changes observed in insulin-resistant patients and in animal models of insulin resistance (IR) as well. We previously demonstrated that sucrose-induced IR affects adrenocortical morphology and function, and that these abnormalities could be prevented by the administration of an insulin-sensitizing PPAR-γ agonist.Objetive: analyzed the impact of moderate exercise on changes in adrenocortical function and morphology associated with the development of IR, generated in male adult rats by the addition of 30% sucrose to the drinking water for 7 weeks.Methodology. Results: body and adipose tissue weights increased in sucrose-treated animals, who also displayed higher glycemic and insulinemic levels as well as hypertriglyceridemia. An altered glycemic response to an i.p. insulin test was also detected. Adrenal glands showed a neutral lipid infiltration and increased expression levels of StAR, CYP11A1, IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS and COX-2. Furthermore, sucrose-treated animals exhibited higher basal corticosterone levels. Exercise training sessions consisted of running on an adapted motorized treadmill for up to 7 min/day. This moderate exercise protocol fully prevented the instauration of the IR-associated somatic and metabolic changes as well as the lipidic infiltration of the adrenal glands, and reversed the inflammatory changes and the increase in corticosterone output.Conclusions: our results underline the negative impact of high dietary fructose consumption, and suggest that moderate exercise could exert additional beneficial effects when employed as a therapeutic strategy in the management of IR.