Skeletal muscle disuse atrophy: protection by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

The goal of this study was to examine benefit of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) derived from fish oil or resolvin D1, metabolite of docosahexaenoic acid, on skeletal muscle disuse atrophy. Atrophy was induced of the left leg of C57Bl6/J male mice for 1 week. Three different treatment experimental protocols were used by feeding a diet enriched with menhaden oil or daily injections with resolvin D1 before or after immobilization. Evaluation of muscle atrophy was performed by determining the difference in weight of the tibialis anterior muscle between the immobilized (left) and mobile contralateral side (right) and by immunohistochemistry. A 2-week prevention protocol with menhaden oil enriched diet or daily injections of 2 ng/g resolvin D1 provided the greatest protection from muscle atrophy. Significant protection was also observed when dietary treatment of the mice was initiated at time of immobilization. This study demonstrated that omega-3 PUFA and metabolites provide protection toward skeletal muscle disuse atrophy.