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Protective effect of omega-3 fatty acids in a rat focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model
Ahmet Kavakli1, Evren Kose, Ilter Kus
1Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Firat University, 23119 Elazig, Turkey. Tel. +90 (424) 2370000. Ext. 4626. Fax. +90 (424) 2379138.
Objective:
To investigate possible neuroprotective effects of dietary supplementation of fish oil in brain ischemia-reperfusion (I/R).
Methods:
This investigation took place in the Experimental Research Unit, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey, from January-February 2006. The study was carried out on 12 male Wistar rats; divided into 2 groups: I/R (control) and I/R + omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA) (experiment). The rats in the I/R group received only ordinary rat food before middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. The I/R + omega-3 EFA group received omega-3 fatty acid daily via intragastric gavage (300 mg/kg Marincap capsule) with normal food before MCA occlusion for 30 days. Structural alterations in the brain tissues were semi-quantitatively analyzed (0: absent, +: slight, ++: moderate, +++: severe).
Results:
There was evident severe (+++) edema, vacuolization, and eosinophilic degeneration in the I/R group, while only slight (+) edema and eosinophilic degeneration in the I/R + omega-3 EFA group in which no vacuolization was determined. These findings are consistent with the available studies in this field.
Conclusion:
Results from this study indicate the beneficial effects of omega-3 EFA supplementation in prevention of I/R - induced damage in rats.
