Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids promote liver regeneration after 90% hepatectomy in rats
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Updated: May 20, 2026
Extended 78% Hepatectomy in a Mouse Surgical Model
Published on: May 24, 2024
Yu-Dong Qiu1, Sheng Wang, Yue Yang
1Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical College of Nanjing University, Jiangsu Province's Key Medical Center for Hepatobiliary Disease, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China. yudongqiu510@163.com
Aim:
To evaluate the effectiveness of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) administration on liver regeneration after 90% partial hepatectomy (PH) in rats.
Methods:
ω-3 PUFAs were intravenously injected in the ω-3 PUFA group before PH surgery. PH, sparing only the caudate lobe, was performed in both the control and the ω-3 PUFA group. Survival rates, liver weight/body weight ratios, liver weights, HE staining, transmission electron microscope imaging, nuclear-associated antigen Ki-67, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and signal transduction were evaluated to analyze liver regeneration.
Results:
All rats in the control group died within 30 h after hepatectomy. Survival rates in the ω-3 PUFA group were 20/20 at 30 h and 4/20 1 wk after PH. Liver weight/body weight ratios and liver weights increased significantly in the ω-3 PUFA group. The structure of sinusoidal endothelial cells and space of Disse was greatly restored in the ω-3 PUFA group compared to the control group after PH. In the ω-3 PUFA group, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 levels were significantly increased whereas IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were dramatically decreased. In addition, activation of protein kinase B (Akt) and of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway were identified at an earlier time after PH in the ω-3 PUFA group.
Conclusion:
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may prevent acute liver failure and promote liver regeneration after 90% hepatectomy in rats.
