High fat diet (HFD) predisposes to many metabolic changes; it may disrupt gut barrier integrity and gut microbiota composition. Synbiotic supplementation may promote host’s metabolic health by selective activation of the healthy microorganisms. This study aimed to probe the interaction between synbiotic supplementation, gut microbiota and gut hormones in HFD states. Twenty-seven adult male albino rats, 3 groups, group I: control, group II: HFD received HFD for 12 weeks and group III: synbiotic-supplemented HFD received synbiotic in the last 6 weeks. The anthropometric measurments were measured. Liver transaminases, lipid profile, parameters of insulin resistance, serum serotonin, glucagon like polypeptide-1 (GLP-1), oxidant/antioxidant markers (MDA/GPx), zonulin levels and quantitative cecal short chain fatty acids (SCFA) were assessed. Samples of liver and colon were employed for histopathological studies. Compared to HFD group, synbiotic led to a significant reduction in anthropometric measurements, liver enzymes, atherogenic index, HOMA-IR and MDA denoting improved dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and oxidative state. Moreover, synbiotic supplementation decreased serum zonulin and increased both serum serotonin, GLP-1 and cecal SCFAs. Synbiotic supplementation ameliorated the metabolic derangements and the disturbed integrity of the intestinal barrier induced by HFD. As synbiotics can increase gut hormones (serum GLP-1&serotonin) and SCFAs.

Background: In spite of the claimed cardio-protective effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC), it is invasive and so using remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) may offer an alternative. Meanwhile, RIPC cardio protective role is controversial, with an equivocal underlying mechanism. The hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1-alpha) which is increased following ischemic insults is claimed as a humoral mediator for RIPC. Objectives:To investigate the effect of remote ischemic pre-conditioning on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats, and to elucidate the possible role of hypoxia inducible factor in this protection. Patients and Methods:The present study was performed on 28 adult female albino rats in the same estrus cycle evaluated by vaginal smear, and they were allocated into 3 groups: Group I: control rats subjected to ischemic /reperfusion injury (I/R) only, group II: early RIPC rats (RIPC 2 hours prior to I/R), group III: acriflavine-treated early RIPC rats. Acriflavine is a drug that binds directly to HIF-1 alpha and HIF-2 alpha subunits, thus inhibiting its dimerization and transcriptional activity, and it was injected IP 10 days prior to RIPC. On sacrifice day, ECG was recorded and isolated heart studies were performed. Later, cardiac chambers weight, serum HIF-1-alpha, myocardial perfusate lactate dehydrogenase, and cardiac oxidative markers: Malonaldehyde and glutathione perioxidase were measured.Results: Compared to the control group, the early RIPC group showed significant increase in the heart rate (HR), QTc interval in the ECG recording, glutathione peroxidase and the HIF 1α levels together with reduction in the percent of decrease in PT and PT/LV, in the percent of prolongation in time to peak tension (TPT), perfusate lactate dehydrogenase and MDA levels, while no significant changes were recorded in the heart chronotropic activity, in the percent of half relaxation time (HRT) prolongation, or in the percent of decrease of MFR. Following acriflavine treatment, the effects of RIPC were abolished highlighting the role of HIF-1-alpha in mediating RIPC protective effects. Conclusion:The non-invasive and non-pharmological remote ischemic preconditioning technique can ameliorate the cardiac ischemic reperfusion injury with an obvious role of HIF-1α in mediating these protective effects. ASMAA T. EBRAHIM et al.