Fasting as a Therapeutic Strategy to Alleviate Heat-Induced Liver and Kidney Damage in mice: A Physiological and Histological Investigation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Biological and Geological Science Department, Faculty of Education, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Sugar consumption and rising global temperatures threaten metabolism, causing overheating and liver and kidney damage. Fasting may prevent and reverse physiological stress from high temperatures, environmental stress, and sugar-induced damage. Materials and Methods: Pregnant albino mice were randomly assigned to the Control, HTEM, Sugar, and Fasting groups. Five fasting cycles were performed by the Fasting group, which fasted for 48–60 hours before eating for four days. PCNA and WT1 expressions in liver and kidney tissues were measured physiologically, histologically, and immunohistochemically. Results and Conclusion: Fasting significantly decreases oxidative stress compared to sugar-based diets and heat stress. Fasting enhances liver and kidney function, antioxidant defense enzyme activity, and histoarchitecture. Fasting groups had lower PCNA protein expressions in hepatic tissue and WT1 expressions in renal tubules than HTEM and Sugar groups. These findings reveal that fasting may lower metabolic strain from high temperatures and sugar consumption, offering novel climate-related health solutions.

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