How sweet it is: The fruit fly gut influences reproduction by 'tasting' fructose
Published:13 Jun.2023 Source:University of Tsukuba
In a study published recently in Science Advances, a research group led by the University of Tsukuba has revealed for the first time that fructose, which is metabolized from dietary sugar such as glucose, is needed for enhanced egg production in fruit flies.
The production and successful development of eggs in organisms depend on the availability of nutrients, because oocytes (the cells that develop into eggs) need a lot of energy to develop into mature eggs. This is especially true of insect oogenesis (the production of eggs in the ovary), which is highly restricted in conditions with insufficient available nutrients. Insect oogenesis is also influenced by mating stimuli that speed up the production of eggs.
The results of this study will be applicable to the question of whether circulating fructose also plays an essential role in mammal reproduction. Interesting applications of these findings include investigations of gestational diabetes in humans and the harmful effects of fructose during pregnancy.