Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on smooth muscle cell functions

There is increasing evidence that fish oil-enriched diets attenuate the progression of several types of human and experimental renal, intestinal and cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), may be one of the active biological component. We previously reported that dietary DHA suppressed the progression of hypertension in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). The purpose of this study is to clarify the in vitro effect of DHA on cultured smooth muscle cell functions such as cell growth, hypertrophy, NO release, and intracellular Ca2+ metabolism, which are involved in the regulatory mechanisms of vascular tone. Addition of DHA to the culture medium of aortic smooth muscle cells isolated from SHRSP and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) had no significant effects on cell growth or on cell hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II as measured by flow cytometry. DHA had no stimulatory effect on interleukin-1beta (10 ng/ml)-induced nitric oxide release from smooth muscle cells of SHRSP, but rather slightly inhibited it. However, the treatment of smooth muscle cells with DHA (30 microM) for 2 days significantly suppressed the increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration induced by angiotensin II, but not by thapsigargin. This was due to the suppression of Ca2+ influx, as determined by Mn2+ influx experiment. These results indicate that DHA specifically suppresses Ca2+ mobilization into smooth muscle cells. This may be one of the mechanisms by which dietary DHA prevents the development of hypertension in SHRSP.