Underlying biochemical effects of intermittent fasting, exercise and honey on streptozotocin-induced liver damage in rats.

Purpose: Derangements of liver transcriptional factors and enzymes have important implications in diabetes-induced related complications. Hence, this study which consists of two experimental phases was aimed at evaluating the possible underlying molecular mechanisms of intermittent fasting (IF), exercise starvation and honey in streptozotocin (STZ)-mediated liver damage in diabetic rats. Methods: The diabetic rats were treated orally with distilled water (0.5 ml/kg), IF, starvation and honey at 1 g/kg body weight in the non-diabetic phase for four (4) weeks. After STZ injections, four (4) weeks of IF, exercise, starvation, and honey therapy were used as interventions prior to a biochemical evaluation of the liver. Results: IF and exercise greatly decreased liver transcription factor (resistin, SREBP-1c), inflammatory cytokines/enzyme (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, MPO) as well as oxidative and nitrergic stress with correspondence increased liver PPAR-γ, IL-10, SOD, CAT and GSH in diabetic rats unlike starvation and honey regimen relative to diabetic controls. Furthermore, IF and exercise significantly improved hepatic glycogen synthase and decreased glycogen phosphorylase in diabetic rats compared to the diabetic control group, but starvation and honey therapy had no such influence. IF and exercise strategically reduces STZ-induced liver metabolic disorder via through modulation of liver transcriptional factors and inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxido-nitrergic and adipokine signaling pathway.

Intermittent fasting and exercise therapy abates STZ-induced diabetotoxicity in rats through modulation of adipocytokines hormone, oxidative glucose metabolic, and glycolytic pathway.

Diabetes is a global, costly, and growing public health issue. Intermittent fasting (IF) and exercise therapy have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity (IS) in large studies, although the underlying processes are still unknown. The goal of this study, which included both nondiabetic and diabetic rats, was to look at the mechanisms of intermittent fasting and exercise in the management of diabetotoxicity. The effects of starvation and honey on the oral glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test, adipocytokines, oxidative glucose metabolic enzymes, glycolytic enzymes, food intake, and body weight in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were also investigated. In the nondiabetic phase, rats were administered an oral regimen of distilled water (0.5 ml/rat), honey (1 g/kg body weight), and interventions with IF, and starvation for 4 weeks while in the diabetic phase, after STZ or citrate buffer injections, interventions with IF, exercise, starvation, and honey treatment began for 4 weeks. At all OGTT and ITT points, there was a substantial rise in glucose in the STZ group. Adipocytokines hormone, oxidative glucose metabolic enzymes, glycolytic enzymes, and body weight were all affected by STZ when compared to starvation and honey, however, IF and exercise significantly reduced these alterations. In diabetic rats, intermittent fasting and exercise enhanced serum adipocytokines levels. These findings imply that adipokines modulate glycolytic/nonmitochondrial enzymes and glucose metabolic/mitochondrial dehydrogenase to mediate the antidiabetic effects of intermittent fasting and exercise.

Duration-dependent effects of high dose of phthalate exposure on semen quality in adult male rats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the length of exposure to high doses of phthalate that might affect sperm quality in adult male Wistar rats. METHODS: Forty-two (42) adult male Wistar rats (weighing 150-200 g) were randomly assigned into six groups (n=7): Group A received 0.5 mL of distilled water - placebo - and served as controls; groups B, C, D, E and F received Phthalate (750 mg/kgbw) for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks, respectively. The data obtained from the study was expressed as Mean ± SEM with a p-value <0.05 considered significant. The data was analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's post-hoc test using GraphPad Prism, version 8. RESULTS: The results showed a statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease in testicular weight in the rats exposed to 750 mg/kg of phthalate for 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks when compared with the controls. Sperm count, motility and viability were also significantly (p<0.05) reduced, while sperm cells with abnormal morphology had increased counts in the groups exposed for 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks when compared with controls. Serum zinc and magnesium were also significantly reduced (p<0.05) in the subjects treated for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks when compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: The dosage of phthalate adopted in this study was deleterious to testicular function when rats were exposed to it for as short a period as three weeks.