Effect Of Short-term Starvation Research Articles

Integrated Omics Analysis Reveals Alterations in the Intestinal Microbiota and Metabolites of Piglets After Starvation.

Obesity is a serious public health problem. Short-term starvation is an effective way to lose weight but can also cause harm to the body. However, a systematic assessment of the relationship between the intestinal microbiota and metabolites after complete fasting is lacking. Pigs are the best animal models for exploring the mechanisms of human nutrition digestion and absorption, metabolism, and disease treatment. In this study, 16S rRNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry were used to analyze the changes in the intestinal microbiota and metabolite profiles in piglets under starvation stress. The results show that the microbial composition was changed significantly in the starvation groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05), suggesting that shifts in the microbial composition were induced by starvation stress. Furthermore, differences in the correlation of the intestinal microbiota and metabolites were observed in the different experimental groups. Starvation may disrupt the homeostasis of the intestinal microbiota and metabolite profile and affect the health of piglets. However, piglets can regulate metabolite production to compensate for the effects of short-term starvation. Our results provide a background to explore the mechanism of diet and short-term hunger for intestinal homeostasis.

Short term starvation and re-feeding in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus 1758): Growth measurements, and immune responses

The effects of short term starvation and re-feeding to satiation on compensatory growth performance, haematological parameters, biochemical parameters, and immune responses were investigated in Oreochromis niloticus of average weights 96.10 ± 0.47 g and 96.44 ± 0.49 g for feeding group and starvation group respectively under the same rearing condition within 21 days period. The fish were divided into two groups namely control group (continuous feeding/ feeding group) and starvation group (days; 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21) and re-feeding was done immediately after starvation (days 7, 14, 21). The changes in growth performance, haematological indices, biochemical parameters, and immune responses of the fish were examined (days; 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21) and during re-feeding of the fish (days; 7, 14, 21). The results of the growth measurements decreased significantly during starvation and recover significantly after re-feeding (P < 0.05). The re-feeding group indicated a compensatory growth. Haematological indices such as WBCs, Hgb, Hct, and RBCs increased significantly (P < 0.05) after 14 days of starvation while re-feeding group decreases significantly within the successive times (P < 0.05). In the starvation group, blood glucfundose decreases significantly while the re-feeding group increases significantly within successive times (P < 0.05). The levels of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Pyruvate kinase (PK) increased significantly in the starvation group while the re-feeding group was maintained significantly within successive times. In the serum and liver, the levels of antioxidant enzymes activities in the starvation group were increased significantly while the re-feeding varied significantly within successive times. The immunological responses including lysozyme, immunoglobulin, and antiproteases increased significantly after 21 days of starvation but decrease significantly in the re-feeding group. The protease and lipase in the starvation group decrease significantly during starvation but increase after 21 days of re-feeding. These findings showed that short term starvation had significant effects on growth performance, haematological and biochemical parameters, and immunological parameters in Nile tilapia and recover positively after re-feeding. Taken together, the present findings provide new sight into the beneficial role of short term starvation and re-feeding in fish.

Potential miRNAs involved in molecular pathways mediating the anticancer effects of short term starvation in breast cancer cells treated with doxorubicin

Potential miRNAs involved in molecular pathways mediating the anticancer effects of short term starvation in breast cancer cells treated with doxorubicin

Effects of short-term starvation on the rhythmic expression of microRNAs in skeletal muscle of goldfish (Carassius auratus )

Molecular oscillators exist in peripheral tissues such as in skeletal muscles and diet is a dominant factor to affect Zeitgeber for peripheral clocks. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in muscle cell proliferation and differentiation. However, the knowledge of starvation effects on miRNA rhythmic expression remains limited in teleost. In this study, the circadian expression pattern of miRNAs was investigated in goldfish muscle upon restricting feeding treatment. The data showed that 15 miRNAs exhibited a daily rhythmicity among the 70 miRNAs assayed in muscles of normally fed goldfish. While after 7-day and 15-day fasting treatment, 23 and 18 miRNAs showed circadian rhythmicity in goldfish muscles respectively. Only 4 miRNAs (miR-23a, miR-29, miR-199a-3p and miR-455) exhibited a daily rhythmicity in all three groups of different nutrient treatments. Correlation analysis of the circadian-miRNAs indicates different feeding stimulation could alter the circadian-miRNA components and their expression profile in skeletal muscle upon short-term feed deprivation. These miRNAs may play important roles in regulating circadian expression of genes involved in muscle cell differentiation and growth by nutritional alteration, thus having a potential application in fish aquaculture.

18P - Potential miRNAs involved in molecular pathways mediating the anticancer effects of short term starvation in breast cancer cells treated with doxorubicin

Background: In recent years, increasing evidences showed that several types of dietary approaches restricting food intake, including Short Term Starvation (STS), may exert a protective role against aging and other age-related pathologies as well as cancer. Interestingly, the dietary restriction showed significant anticancer effects able to prevent cancer onset, slow its progression and improve therapy response. Since recent studies showed that miRNAs may modulate sensibility/resistance to antiblastic therapy, the aim of our study was to investigate the STS-induced molecular changes in breast cancer cells treated with doxorubicin, focusing our attention on miRNA expression profile. Methods: Vitality assays were used to assess the effects of STS on cell proliferation. Using a TaqMan Low Density Array A human microRNA microarray analysis, the expression profile of 377 miRNAs was analyzed in healthy and malignant breast cells, MCF10A and MDA-MB-231 respectively, treated for 24h with 1µM doxorubicin under STS conditions for 48h. In addition, the expression of mRNAs and miRNAs specifically induced by STS was analyzed in MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and SkBr3 cells using Real-time PCR analyses. Results:In vitro cell vitality assays showed that STS, in association with doxorubicin treatment, significantly reduces breast cancer cell proliferation and viability, whereas it appears to protect healthy breast cells from chemotherapeutic treatment. Microarray analysis showed that a subset of miRNAs involved in molecular pathways related to drug sensitivity/resistance was found to be differentially expressed in breast cancer cells following the doxorubicin treatment and STS. Finally, expression analysis of hypothetical miRNA gene targets involved in therapy response have confirmed the coherence of our results. Conclusions: This work establishes, for the first time, an interesting link between anticancer effects of STS and miRNA expression changes in doxorubicin-treated breast cancer cells, suggesting the potential involvement of some miRNAs in molecular pathways mediating the effects of STS in breast cancer. Legal entity responsible for the study: Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo Funding: None Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Daily Rhythms and Effect of Short-term Starvation on the of Health Parameters in Olive Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Daily Rhythms and Effect of Short-term Starvation on the of Health Parameters in Olive Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Effect of starvation on some immunological and biochemical parameters in tinfoil barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii)

ABSTRACTIn this study, the effect of short-term starvation (0, 1 and 2 weeks) on biochemical parameters and non-specific immune response of tinfoil barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) was investigated. Fish in three different groups were deprived of feed for 0 (control), 1 (S1) and 2 (S2) weeks, respectively. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for biochemical and immunological analyses. The results indicated that plasma glucose, cholesterol and peroxidase levels and haemolytic complement activity were significantly lower in starved fish for 2 weeks than those in fed fish and in starved fish for 1 week. Plasma lysozyme activity significantly changed in different starvation periods in all treatment groups. However, no significant effect was observed on plasma antiprotease activity. There were significant differences between the control and the food-deprived groups in plasma triglyceride levels. Starvation increased plasma total protein, albumin and globulin in the deprived groups compared with the control group. The results of this study showed significant changes in non-specific immune parameters, plasma glucose levels and other metabolites in this species after feed deprivation that are indicative of the relationship between starvation effects and the extension of starvation period.

Effects of short-term starvation and re-feeding on antioxidant defense status in Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi (Günther, 1874) fingerlings

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of short-term starvation and re-feeding on oxidative stress in Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi (Gunther, 1874). After two weeks adaptation to new conditions, a total number of 270 fingerlings were distributed into nine 300-L fiberglass tanks, equipped with aeration system in three treatments including 4, 8 and 16 days starvation (each in 3 replicates). After starvation, all groups were fed for 32 days. At the beginning of trial and at the end of starvation and re-feeding periods, blood samples were collected, plasma was separated and activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were assayed. Based on the results, no significant difference was observed in SOD activity at the end of starvation and also after re-feeding between the different treatments. At the end of starvation the activity of the CAT and GPX increased significantly in 8 and 16 days of starvation groups compared to the base. Moreover, a significant increase in MDA levels of plasma was found during food deprivation. These findings showed that short-time starvation increased antioxidant enzymes activity in plasma of M. sharpeyi but short-term food deprivation and re-feeding periods in this species does not cause disturbances in the antioxidant defense status.

Effects of short-term starvation and refeeding on the survival, growth, and RNA/DNA and RNA/ protein ratios in rock carp (Procypris rabaudi) larvae

Effects of short-term starvation and refeeding on the survival, growth, and RNA/DNA and RNA/ protein ratios in rock carp (Procypris rabaudi) larvae

Adverse effects of chronic intake of glutamine-supplemented diet on amino acid concentrations and protein metabolism in rat: Effect of short-term starvation

Summary Background & aims Glutamine supplementation is recommended in severe illness, preterm infants, and athletes. However, the information about side effects of chronic intake of glutamine-supplemented diet is limited. Methods Male Wistar rats were fed with glutamine-supplemented diet (GlnD). The controls were fed by standard or high-protein diets. After three months, the effect of GlnD on amino acid concentration in body fluids and protein metabolism was examined in fed and in 24 h-fasted animals. Protein synthesis was examined by the “flooding method” using phenylalanine; proteolysis on the basis of chymotrypsin-like activity (CHTLA) of proteasome and cathepsin B and L activities; amino acid concentrations were estimated using HPLC. Student’s t -tests with Bonferroni correction were used for statistical analysis. Results In the blood of GlnD fed animals sacrificed in fed state we found higher concentrations of glutamine, urea, and histidine, and lower concentration of creatinine and of a number of amino acids than in controls. The main alterations in intracellular free amino acid concentration were increased concentration of glutamine, increased concentration of histidine in skeletal muscle, and decreased concentrations of glycine, serine, and threonine in several tissues. In GlnD fed animals we found enhanced amount and concentration of protein in the kidneys, decreased protein content in tibialis muscle, and enhanced CHTLA in soleus muscle. We did not find significant effect on protein synthesis in any tissue. Starvation of animals previously fed by GlnD led to a marked decrease in glutamine concentration and an increase in glycine, serine, and threonine in plasma and in most of examined tissues, and in more significant decrease in protein synthesis in the liver, jejunum, colon, and spleen than in animals fed before starvation by standard diet. Conclusions It is concluded that chronic intake of GlnD has negative effect on protein balance in skeletal muscle, significantly alters amino acid concentrations in plasma and tissues, and results in impaired response to starvation, particularly to the rapid development of glutamine deficiency in body fluids and impaired protein synthesis in visceral tissues.

Effect of unfavorable trophic scenarios on amylase and protease activity of Nephrops norvegicus (L.) larvae during their first vertical migration: a laboratory approach

In Portuguese waters, Nephrops norvegicus larvae hatch at 400–800 m depth and need to perform a vertical migration to food-rich shallower waters to find suitable prey. The effect of suboptimal feeding on digestive enzymes activity of N. norvegicus larvae during this early period of their larval life remains unknown. Protease and amylase activities were investigated ex situ using flurometry in laboratory-hatched larvae exposed to different feeding and/or starving scenarios in the 24 h following hatching, the period during which they typically accomplish their upward vertical migration. Amylase activity was very low in comparison with protease activity, indicating that carbohydrates are not a primary energy reserve. Larvae starved for 12 h and subsequently fed displayed no increase in amylase activity, which suggests that feeding may be required before 12 h post-hatch to trigger amylase activity. Protease activity was high under all feeding conditions, and the increase in protease activity under sustained starvation indicated the catabolism of protein reserves. The ability of first-stage N. norvegicus larvae to metabolize protein reserves may play a decisive role for their survival during their first vertical migration, as it enables them to overcome the deleterious effects of short-term starvation and/or suboptimal feeding.

Effects of short-term starvation on ghrelin, GH-IGF system, and IGF-binding proteins in Atlantic salmon

The effects of short-time fasting on appetite, growth, and nutrient were studied in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts. Feed deprivation did change the energy metabolism with reduced plasma protein and muscle indispensible amino acid levels. Plasma levels of ghrelin were significantly higher in starved salmon compared with fed fish after 2 days, but no differences in circulating ghrelin were found between treatments after 14 days. Two mRNA sequences for ghrelin-1 and ghrelin-2, 430 and 533 bp long, respectively, were detected. In addition, the growth hormone secretagogues-receptor like receptor (GHSR-LR) 1a and 1b were identified. Ghrelin-1 but not ghrelin-2 mRNA levels were affected by starvation in the stomach. Lower ghrelin-1 mRNA levels were detected at day 2 in starved fish compared with fed fish. The mRNA levels of GHSR-LR1a were not affected by starvation. Fasting reduced the phenotypic growth and the transcription of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II together with IGF-IIR, but IGF-I mRNA were not regulated in fasted salmon after 14 days. Three IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP) at 23, 32, and 43 kDa were found in salmon, and circulating 23 kDa was significantly increased after 14 days of starvation compared with fed fish, indicating increased catabolism. The levels of IGFBP-1 mRNA were significantly higher in fed and starved fish after 14 days compared to those at the start of the experiment, but no significant difference was observed between the treatments. In conclusion, we have shown that circulating ghrelin and ghrelin-1 mRNA is related to changes in energy metabolism in Atlantic salmon.

Captivity, ablation and starvation of the prawn Penaeus monodon affects protein and lipid content in ovary and hepatopancreas tissues

To investigate the effect of captivity and ablation on ovary development in Penaeus monodon, two experiments were conducted using prawns captured from waters in North Queensland, Australia. The first experiment quantified total protein and lipid in the ovaries and hepatopancreas prior to and during ovary maturation. The second experiment examined the effect of ablation, captivity and short term starvation on previtellogenic ovary composition. Results revealed the captive conditions of this study caused a reduction in lipid content in previtellogenic ovaries. Further investigation of the effect of short term starvation on previtellogenic prawns showed that ablation reduced the depletion of protein and lipid from the ovary and the depletion of protein from the hepatopancreas. This suggests that eyestalk neuropeptides are involved in regulating nutrient levels in these tissues prior to vitellogenesis. In addition, ablation appears to increase the hepatopancreas contribution to lipids accumulating in the vitellogenic ovary although captive conditions (including diet) may also play a role in this increase. Despite these significant effects on immature ovaries, the current study showed that, at least for the first post-ablation maturation cycle, captivity and ablation caused no significant change in the levels of lipid or protein in mature ovaries. Thus, the effects of captivity on previtellogenic ovaries and the role of ablation in regulating nutrient uptake at this developmental stage warrants further study with a particular view to improving spawning frequency.

Effect of short-term starvation on hepatopancreas and plasma energy reserves of the Pacific white shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei)

Crustaceans are forced to fast during molting. Several physiological, metabolic and behavioral changes have been associated with starvation. Although some of these changes have been well studied, knowledge of the dynamics of fuel reserves during the molting process is limited. To understand the effects of short-term hunger stress on energy reserves, intermolt shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei were starved up to five days. This period corresponds to the normal time that juvenile shrimp starve during molting, since they can not eat. Glucose, glycogen, total soluble protein, total lipids, sterols, and acylglycerides were measured in plasma and hepatopancreas. The same metabolic substrates were measured in organisms that were fed after 96 h of starvation. It is widely accepted that protein is the main energy reserve used by shrimp to deal with starvation. However, under short-term starvation a rapid decrease of plasma and hepatopancreas glucose and an important decrease in hepatopancreatic glycogen were detected. Additionally, acylglycerides content in hepatopancreas decreased significantly at later times, while protein in plasma and hepatopancreas remained fairly constant during the experiment. This study may help understand some aspects of the nutrition physiology of the Pacific white shrimp related to its biology.

The Effect of Short Term Starvation on the Plasma Kinetics of Sulphadimidine in Rabbits

The Effect of Short Term Starvation on the Plasma Kinetics of Sulphadimidine in Rabbits

Free amino acid and glutathione concentrations in muscle during short-term starvation and refeeding

The effects of short-term starvation and refeeding on the free amino acids and glutathione in skeletal muscle in healthy man are not known. This is necessary baseline knowledge when studying the effects of nutrition, trauma and sepsis on protein, amino acid and glutathione metabolism. Concentrations of free amino acids and glutathione in muscle and plasma from young healthy male volunteers (n = 8) were measured before and after a 3-day fast and then again after 2 days refeeding. Nitrogen balance was determined during the study period. The cumulated nitrogen loss was 36.9+/-5.4 g during the fasting period indicating a condition of protein catabolism. During the fasting period decreases were seen in muscle glutamate by 48 +/- 20% and in glutamine by 38 +/- 12%. These changes were returned back to normal levels during the refeeding period. The changes seen in other muscle amino acids during the study period were reflected by similar changes in plasma amino acids, again with normalisation after the refeeding period. Muscle glutathione concentration and the redox status of glutathione remained unaffected of short-term starvation and refeeding. A short-term fasting followed by a refeeding period induced changes in the concentrations of concentrations of glutamate, glutamine, branched chained and basic amino acids in muscle and plasma. Despite this, no changes were seen regarding the glutathione levels in muscle and plasma or its redox status, indicating that the glutathione system is of priority.

Effects of short-term starvation on composition and metabolism of larval Antarctic krill Euphausia superba

Metabolic rates and elemental and biochemical composition of Furcilia IV (FIV) larvae of Euphausia superba were studied during 12 d of starvation at the onset of winter in the Bellings- hausen Sea. This time of the year may be a critical period in the krill life cycle because their larvae must switch from feeding on summer phytoplankton blooms to winter ice algae. FIV utilized mainly lipids overall, but also protein during the second half of the 12 d period. After 6 d of starvation most of the larvae lost half of their body C. Body lipid content decreased from 12.7 to 1.5% of dry mass (DM), whereas protein fell from 32.7 to 25.8% of DM. Respiration rates decreased from 1.3 to 0.7-0.8 µl O2 (mg DM) -1 h -1 in the first 3 d, after which they remained roughly constant. These rates correspond to C losses of 2.7 and 2.0% body C d -1 respectively. Excretion rates decreased from 0.04 to 0.02 µg NH4 (mg DM) -1 h -1 until the middle of the starvation period and then rose to 0.05 µg NH4 (mg DM) -1 h -1 by the end, which is probably related to the increase in protein breakdown. Based on these losses of body C and lipid, the FIV larvae may pass their point of no return, where they lose their ability to recover from nutritional stress, after 6 d.

Comparative biochemistry and short-term starvation effects on the earthworms Eisenia veneta and Lumbricus terrestris studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy and pattern recognition

The aim of this work was to determine the applicability of high resolution 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic methods to the analysis of earthworm extracts, as a prelude to toxicity testing. This has been applied to the characterisation and examination of starvation effects on the endogenous metabolites of extracts of Eisenia veneta and Lumbricus terrestris in Ringer solution. Identified metabolites include free amino acids, sugars and low molecular weight organic acids. In both E. veneta and L. terrestris NMR signals from: alanine, arginine, asparagine, glutamate, glycine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, glucose, citrate, fumarate, inosine, lactate, propanone, succinate and uridine were detected. The E. veneta extracts contained N-methyl-nicotinic and urocanic acids that were not detected in L. terrestris. Higher concentrations of inosine, lysine and malonic acid were also observed for E. veneta. In L. terrestris a higher amount of glucose was observed. The effect of short-term starvation on E. veneta showed small metabolic changes for the first 5 days, with clear differences at 6 and 7 days. These included increases in glutamate, citrate, aspartate and isoleucine, and decreases in lysine, isoleucine and threonine. In contrast L. terrestris showed no consistent endogenous low molecular weight metabolite changes as detected by 1H NMR spectroscopy over this period, suggesting this species to be more suitable for soil toxicity testing and monitoring using this procedure.

Effects of short-term starvation on relief of &quot;brain fatigue&quot;and its application for obesity

Effects of short-term starvation on relief of &quot;brain fatigue&quot;and its application for obesity

Effect of short-term starvation on gastric emptying in humans: relationship to oral glucose tolerance.

To evaluate the effects of short-term starvation on gastric emptying in normal and obese subjects, the relationship between gastric emptying and oral glucose tolerance, and the mechanisms responsible for the delay in the systemic appearance of oral glucose observed after short-term fasting, we determined the effects of a 4-day fast on 1) gastric emptying and oral glucose tolerance in normal subjects and 2) gastric emptying in obese patients. Gastric emptying of 75 g glucose (320 ml) labeled with 99mTc colloid was measured in 12 healthy volunteers and 11 obese subjects after 12-h and 4-day fasts. In seven other obese subjects, the effect of a 4-day fast on gastric emptying of 320 ml normal saline was quantified. Gastric emptying of glucose was slower after the 4-day than after the overnight fast in both normal (P = 0.02) and obese (P < 0.001) subjects, with no difference between the two groups. In normal subjects, the rate of gastric emptying was related directly to the rise in plasma glucose at 30 min (r = 0.60; P < 0.05) but inversely to the plasma glucose at 180 min (r = -0.64; P < 0.02). In the obese subjects, gastric emptying of saline was not affected by fasting. These observations indicate that 1) gastric emptying of glucose is retarded by a 4-day fast, 2) the changes in gastric emptying reported in obesity may reflect different patterns of prior nutrient intake, and 3) delay in gastric emptying accounts for the slower systemic appearance of glucose after fasting.