Involvement of oxidative stress and NADPH oxidase activation in the development of cardiovascular complications in a model of insulin resistance, the fructose-fed rat.

Growing evidences suggest a role of oxidative stress in hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. The fructose (60%)-fed rat represents a model of metabolic syndrome, associating insulin resistance and high blood pressure. In this model, hypertension, cardiac and vessels hypertrophy and markers of oxidative stress were determined. In addition, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was evaluated at different times after the initiation of fructose-enriched diet in aorta, heart and polymorphonuclear cells. High fructose feeding was associated with an early (1-week) increase in ROS production by aorta, heart and circulatory polymorphonuclear cells, in association with enhanced markers of oxidative stress. Vascular and cardiac hypertrophy was also rapidly observed, while the rise in blood pressure was significant only after 3 weeks. In summary, our study suggests that the production of reactive oxygen species can be a key-event in the initiation and development of cardiovascular complications associated with insulin resistance.