ИСТИНА

Male rats are well-known animal model for the most researches. However, there is no doubt that females’ and males’ response to stress differ from each other (Simpson and Kelly, 2012). Modified eating schedule (including intermittent fasting) could lead to varied effects: mass changes, brain function and liver metabolism changes, as well as inflammatory status (Antoni et al., 2017). But how does changes in eating behavior affect female rats is not fully clarified yet. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of intermittent fasting (IF) on the body weight dynamics; the balance of autonomic nervous system; content of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase I (SODI), non-protein thiols (NPT), ceruloplasmin (CPL) in blood and in liver (for CPL in blood only). The study was performed on female Wistar rats (180 - 215 g). The animals were divided into control (n = 11) and experimental (n = 11) groups. Animals from control group were fed ad libitum; animals from experimental group were fed for 1 hour in a day for 4 days, then all animals were placed in ad libitum conditions for 7 days. Blood and liver samples as well as “Open Field” test and ECG registration were performed one day after 4th food deprivation. At the 7th day of recovery “Open Field” test and ECG registration were performed once again. According to the “Open Field”, anxiety and overall activity level were measured. ECG parameters were used for heart rate variability assessment and autonomic nervous system balance investigation. Parametric and non-parametric t-test, as well as two-way ANOVA test were used for a statistical analysis. Proposed intermittent fasting regime does not change weight dynamic of experimental animals compare to control ones, however, trend for weight loss were observer in the end of IF. Results of the “Open Field” test (the number and continuously of groomings’ acts, the number of racks and traversed sectors as well as outlets to the center of the arena) showed no statistical difference between control and experimental animals. There were not observed changes in RMSSD, SD and SI (indexes for autonomic nervous system balance investigation) in experimental rats in the end of food deprivation as well as in the end of recovery period. Blood CAT and SODI concentrations were decreased (by 24%, p=0.026 for CAT and by 24%, p=0.015 for SODI), however there was no change in liver CAT and SODI concentration. This observed differences could be explained by the increased inflammatory in the peripheral organ and tissue which lead to decrease in CAT and SOD concentrations in the blood while liver concentration stand still. CPL concentration in blood were statistically increased in experimental group compare to the control (by 18.5%, p=0.028) and the NPT level in blood and liver does not change due to IF. CPL is known to be one of the curtail protein for iron exchange regulation which mean that iron exchange could be affected by IF regime.