title: Effects of omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids on vascular smooth muscle tone.
abstract: The comparative effects of omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids on vascular smooth muscle tone were investigated. Docosahexaenoic acid (1-255 microM) and eicosapentaenoic acid (31-255 microM) inhibited phenylephrine-induced contractions, (8-63%) and (20-65%), respectively, which were not altered by indomethacin, NDGA, or by removal of the endothelium. Linoleic acid (18:2n6) and arachidonic acid (20:4n6) also induced significant relaxation. Therefore, fatty acid-induced relaxation of the rat aorta is specific to polyunsaturated fatty acids, 20:5n3, 22:6n3, 18:2n6 and 20:4n6.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0610.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Engler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015777:Eicosanoids / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D015777:Eicosanoids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors