Potential role for vitamin D vs. intermittent fasting in controlling aquaporin-1 and aquaporin-3 expression in HFD-induced urinary bladder alterations in rats

• Published in: Frontiers in molecular biosciences 2024-01, Vol.10, p.1306523-1306523
• Main Authors: Hassan, Hend M, El-Gamal, Randa, Hamed, Walaa H E, Habotta, Ola Ali, Samy, Mervat, Elmowafy, Rasha, ElNashar, Eman Mohamed, Alghamdi, Mansour Abdullah, Aldahhan, Rashid A, Al-Khater, Khulood Mohammed, Alshehri, Mohammed A, Ahmed, Magda E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AQP-1; AQP-3; high-fat diet; intermittent fasting and vitamin D; Molecular Biosciences; urinary bladder
• ISSN: 2296-889X; 2296-889X
• DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1306523

High-fat diet-induced obesity is linked to suppression of aquaporins (AQPs) expression in different tissues. Both vitamin D and intermittent fasting were identified to enhance AQPs expression. In the urinary bladder, AQP-1 and AQP-3 mRNA transcripts were identified. Vitamin D has an impact on a variety of genes that encode proteins that control cell proliferation, differentiation, and death. To assess potential benefits of vitamin D and intermittent fasting (IF) and to explore alterations to the urinary bladder triggered by high-fat diet (HFD) in a rat model of obesity. Each of the 4 groups contained six adult male albino rats; control: a standard rodent chew for 12 weeks, HFD: HFD and fructose were administered orally via gastric gavage for 12 weeks, and vitamin D: HFD and fructose were administered orally for 8 weeks, then 4 weeks of intraperitoneal injection of vitamin D (5 microns/Kg/2 days) and IF group: Received intraperitoneal injections of vitamin D (5 microns/Kg/2 days) for 4 weeks after consumption of HFD and fructose orally for 8 weeks. The serum lipid profile was conducted at end of the experiment. In the bladder homogenates, the levels of oxidative stress indicators were assessed. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed on recently collected bladder samples. AQP-1 and AQP-3 immunohistochemistry was done. When compared to the HFD group, the vitamin D and IF groups both demonstrated a substantial improvement in histopathological, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and molecular markers. In all examined parameters, IF exceeded vitamin D as a preventive factor for the urinary bladder deterioration.