Evidence of sugar sensitive genes in the gut of a carnivorous fish species

The ability of intestine to sense glucose in carnivorous animals (consuming minimal carbohydrate) has been partially evaluated to date only in cats. We have evaluated the expression of markers involved in the detection of simple sugars in the intestine of the strict carnivorous fish species rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in response to an oral glucose load and to glucose, galactose and mannose stimulation in vitro. These markers include metabolic (GLUT2 and glucokinase (hexokinase IV, GK)) and electrogenic (SGLT1) sensors, the nuclear receptor nr1h3 and the components of the G-protein-coupled taste receptors (tas1r2-like, tas1r3-like and gnat3-like). For the first time, we show that the gut of rainbow trout can detect simple sugars including glucose, galactose and mannose and respond by changing the expression levels of glucose-sensing proteins. The glucosensing response based on the metabolic and nuclear receptor systems had not been evidenced before in any carnivorous vertebrate species, whereas the responses of markers of the electrogenic mechanism and the taste receptor mechanism were different than those already described in cats. When the responses observed in rainbow trout were compared with those of omnivorous mammals, similar responses were obtained for nr1h3 whereas several differences arise in the responses of the other markers. Intestinal glucose sensing in the rainbow trout appears to be distinct from that reported for other carnivores such as cats and omnivores, revealing a novel glucose sensing mechanism not related entirely to diet in vertebrates and supports the idea that this species constitute a robust model for nutrient sensing study. Since only mRNA abundance is presented, depth studies are needed to fully understand the importance of the present findings.