A Histological Study of The Protective Role of Intermittent Fasting and Probiotics on Indomethacin Induced Colitis in Adult Male Albino Rats

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are considered as one of the commonest gastrointestinal disorders. Probiotics and intermittent fasting (IF) were reported to improve various inflammatory disorders. So, the present work aimed to study the histological changes in indomethacin induced colitis and to evaluate the protective role of probiotics alone and in combination with IF. Methods: 48 rats were divided into 4 groups; Control, Colitis, Probiotic- Colitis and Combined IF& probiotics - Colitis groups. Colitis was induced by subcutaneous injection with indomethacin (7.5 mg/kg /day) for 2 days then rats were sacrificed after the last injection. Probiotic- Colitis rats were given probiotic powder (135 mg/kg) for 21 days then colitis was induced. Rats of combined IF& probiotics - Colitis group were fed for only 8 h per day and were given probiotics for 21 days then colitis was induced. At the end of the experiment, colon sections were examined by light and electron microscopy. Results: Colitis group showed deformed crypts, loss of the epithelium, few goblet cells, deformed intestinal barrier and infiltration with several types of inflammatory cells. A significant increase in TNF-α immunoexpression and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) was observed. In the probiotics- colitis and combined IF and probiotics groups, there was an improvement in the histological and biochemical alterations. Conclusion: Indomethacin led to histological alterations in the rat colon which was accompanied by an increase in serum MDA. Probiotics could protect the colon from these alterations. Also, combination of IF and probiotics might provide more protection than probiotics alone.