Intermittent fasting (IF) plays an important role in the protection against metabolic syndrome-induced memory defects. This study aimed to assess the protective effects of both prophylactic and curative IF against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced memory defects in rats. The control group received a normal diet; the second group received a HFD; the third group was fed a HFD for 12 weeks and subjected to IF during the last four weeks (curative IF); the fourth group was fed a HFD and subjected to IF simultaneously (prophylactic IF). A high-fat diet significantly increased body weight, serum lipids levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and H score in brain tissue and altered memory performance. In addition, it significantly decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration in brain tissue and viability and thickness of pyramidal and hippocampus granular cell layers. However, both types of IF significantly decreased body weight, serum lipids, GFAP protein expression and H score and MDA concentration in brain tissue, and improved memory performance, while it significantly increased GSH concentration in brain tissue, viability, and thickness of pyramidal and granular cell layers of the hippocampus. This study indicated that IF ameliorated HFD-induced memory disturbance and brain tissue damage and the prophylactic IF was more potent than curative IF.

Background: Estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) is one of the most challenging tasks and difficult, longstanding problems in forensic practice from ancient times up to the present. Post-mortem interval is paramount in daily forensic casework, as it can help with the identification of human remains and assist in death investigations. The light microscope remains the most important tool for the study of cell microstructures by using a light beam. Electron microscope (EM) is a powerful sensitive technique for tissue imaging, that is used for estimating PMI. EM uses a beam of electrons instead of a light beam. Objectives: The aim of the study is to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI) in experimental adult male albino rats by studying the histological changes in the liver using light and transmission electron microscope (TEM) techniques. Methods: Thirty male albino rats were randomly divided into six groups (five rats each). All rats (30 rats) were sacrificed by cervical dislocation at the same time. The liver was obtained from each rat group at different PM time points as follow: group 1 (Control group): at the moment of death. Group 2:half-hour PMI. Group 3: one-hour PMI. Group 4: two hours PMI. Group 5: four hours PMI. Group 6: six hours PMI. Results: results are obtained by light and electron microscopic examinations.The light microscopic changes were observed as early as 30 minutes since death, whereas ultrastructurally significant difference in morphology was observed in more detailed from 30 minutes and increased in time dependent manner till complete homogenization at 6 hours interval. Conclusion:Light and electron microscopic findings of the liver tissue sample were found to be helpful in establishing the post-mortem interval.

Background/ aim: High methionine (Met) (a precursor for homocysteine) diet is a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This work demonstrated the hepatic effects of feeding western diet enriched with Methionine. Additionally, we evaluated the anti-oxidative properties of sitagliptin (STG) (an antidiabetic drug) which, counteract the negative effects of high Met diet.Methodology: Forty adult male Wister albino rats, divided into 4 group (10 rats/group) normal diet (control and STG groups), or high Methionine enriched diet, 1.5 % Methionine (Met and Met + STG treated groups) for 35 days. Rats were either treated with vehicle (control, Met groups) or Sitagliptin, 100 mg/kg/day (STG, Met + STG groups). Investigations were Lipid profile, liver functions test, serum homocysteine, iron, ferritin, liver reduced glutathione (GSH), serum MDA level and histopathological investigations. Results: Met resulted in significant increase in LDL and cholesterol with significant decrease in HDL. Moreover, it had resulted in significant increase ALT and AST, with significant increase serum iron and homocysteine with no effect on serum ferritin, and significant decrease in tissue reduced glutathione as an antioxidant enzyme. STG with normal control diet had positive effects on different parameters. Treatment with STG has resulted in an improvement in most of altered parameters. Conclusions:Our findings suggest that Met induced NAFLD could be related to increase serum iron, homocysteine levels as an inflammatory activator factors and antioxidant machinery defects and the ameliorating role of STG in this type of induced hepatotoxicity.