Protective effect of omega-3 fatty acids in a rat focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model

ABSTRACT

To investigate possible neuroprotective effects of dietary supplementation of fish oil in brain ischemia-reperfusion [I/R]. 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]. 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. Results from this study indicate the beneficial effects of omega-3 EFA supplementation in prevention of I/R - induced damage in rats