Effect of interval fasting on the morpho-functional state of the pancreas in adult rats

Abstract

Literature data on the effect of interval fasting (IF) on the morphological and functional changes in the pancreas, especially its exocrine part, are rare. The aim of our work was to study the morphological changes in the exo- and endocrine pancreas of adult rats after the influence of IF. The study was carried out on 24 male Wistar rats at the age of 15 months. Experimental rats were on IF: 1 day – complete fasting / 2 days – standard diet. Access to water was free. The duration of the experiment was 28 days. Rats were decapitated under light ether anesthesia. Work with rats was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. Histological preparations were made from the central part (the body of the gland) according to the standard method. From micropreparations of the gland, photographs were taken using a digital camera. Gland morphometry was performed on digital images using the «Image J» computer program. It was revealed that in the exocrine pancreas of adult rats that were on IF, the area of ​​acinus, nucleus of exocrinocytes increases and the number of nucleolus increases, the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio increases. In the endocrine pancreas of experimental rats, more intense morphological changes occur, namely: its relative area probably increases (by 108 %), the average number of Langerhans islets increases (by 44 %) and their linear dimensions increase, the number of endocrine cells increases (by 20 %). Also in the gland of these animals, a decrease in the relative area of ​​the stroma (by 21 %) and the stromal-parenchymal index (by 28 %), as well as a decrease in the width of the layers of the interlobular (by 28 %) and interacinus (by 34 %) connective tissue, which improves conditions for the course of metabolic processes. Thus, the effect of IF is accompanied by the appearance of morphological signs of an increase in the activity of both the exocrine and endocrine (to a greater extent) pancreas in adult rats. The data obtained may be of interest for practical medicine when deciding whether to prescribe this type of hunger strike to people with reduced pancreas function.