Alternate day fasting attenuates altered ion homeostasis, intracellular ROS in rats during aging
Description
Alternate day fasting (ADF) is an intervention strategy that has shown potential in delaying aging-induced complications. However, the effect of ADF on cellular ion transport is still a grey area although the intracellular ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) may contribute in the ionic homeostasis levels. In this study the role of ADF in the modulation of the plasma membrane associated pumps Na+-K+ ATPase (NKA) and the Na+- H+ exchanger (NHE) has been studied during aging in rats. Materials and Methods. The number of rats maintained in each group is 6. Experimental rats were maintained on a regimen of ADF. The experiment has been performed on young and old male Wistar rats. The NKA pump and NHE activity was measured in erythrocyte membrane during aging in rats. The osmotic fragility of erythrocytes was also measured which gives us the impact of ADF on the membrane transporters levels during aging. An assay of the intracellular ROS level was also performed in the rat erythrocytes. Results. It has been observed that ADF improves the cellular ion homeostasis during aging, an effect more evident in old aged rats.