Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on hepatic tight junction after partial hepatectomy in rats

To explore the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) on the hepatic tight junction in rat liver after partial hepatectomy.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: sham operation, 70% hepatectomy, 70% hepatectomy with administration of 1 mL/kg n-3 PUFA, and 70% hepatectomy with administration of 2 mL/kg n-3 PUFA. Morphologic features of the hepatic tight junction were observed at transmission electron microscopy, and expression of the tight junction proteins occludin, claudin-3, and ZO-1 was studied using Western blot analysis.

The hepatic tight junction structure became loosened 3 days after 70% hepatectomy. The levels of tight junction occludin decreased markedly, whereas claudin-3 and ZO-1 levels increased 2- or 3-fold over control levels. Supplementation of n-3 PUFA alleviated the changes in tight junction structure and occludin expression.

n-3 PUFA has protective effects on hepatic tight junction structure after 70% hepatectomy, which were attributed in part to modulation of occludin expression.