Dysfunction of aged liver of male albino rats and the effect of intermitted fasting; Biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical study

Intermittent fasting exerts beneficial effects on most age-related degenerative changes throughout the body. This study aimed to investigate the possible protective effects and mechanism of intermittent fasting on aged liver in male albino rats. Forty male albino rats were used in this study and were divided into four equal groups; Group I served as control ; rats aged 1 month sacrfied when they reached age of 4 month. Group II; rats aged 1 month with intermittent fasting for 3 months. The rats sacrfied when they reached age of 4 mounth Group III; rats aged 15-month fed an ad-libitum diet. The rats sacrified when they reached age of 18 month. Group IV; 15 month rats with intermittent fasting for 3 months. The rats sacrified when they reached age of 18 month. Liver specimens were excised and processed for biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical study. Blood samples were collected for biochemical study. The result showed a significant increase in liver injury, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers with a marked decrease in the autophagy marker in group III if compared with both group I and II. Additionally, group III showed hepatic vacuolations, cellular filtration, and congestion in both central and portal veins. A highly significant increase in the mean color intensity of positive immunochemical reaction for anti caspase 3 and anti-TNF alpha as well as a highly significant increase in the surface area fraction of collagen fibers were noticed in group III if compared with group I and II. Interestingly, intermittent fasting (group IV) remarkably reduced the previous alternation that that occurred in group III. It could be concluded that various biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical alterations were observed in liver rat in group III. Beneficial effects of fasting on these changes were recorded in group IV through its anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic effect as well as its effect in modulating autophagy in aged liver cells. This might open the gate for further research and provide a new line for therapeutic intervention in aged liver. These data lead to speculate that sporadic fasting might represent a simple, safe, and inexpensive means to fight the changes occurred in the aged liver.