title: Effect of dietary n-3 fatty acids on cerebral microcirculation.
abstract: The purpose of these studies was to determine the effects of dietary n-3 fish oil on cerebrovascular reactivity and cerebrospinal fluid prostaglandin levels. Adult rabbits (n = 30) received fish oil (200 mg/kg eicosapentaenoic + 143 mg/kg docosahexaenoic acid), corn oil, or water by daily gavage for 6 wk and were then tested for their pial arteriolar diameter response to topical acetylcholine, bradykinin, or systemic asphyxia using the cranial window technique. Plasma and platelet fatty acids were measured by gas chromatography. Cerebrospinal fluid prostaglandin E and serum thromboxane B2 were measured by radioimmunoassay. n-3 Fatty acids were enriched in the plasma and platelets of the fish oil group (P less than 0.05). Serum thromboxane B2 was decreased by 31% in the fish oil group (P less than 0.05). The diameter response to acetylcholine and asphyxia was the same in all groups; however, the dilator response to bradykinin, which is known to be mediated by oxygen radicals, was significantly diminished in the fish oil group (P less than 0.05). Cerebrospinal fluid prostaglandin E concentration increased in response to acetylcholine, bradykinin, and asphyxia; however, the percent increase was less in the fish oil group. In summary, dietary n-3 fatty acids, which are purported to decrease heart disease, appear to selectively affect cerebral arteriolar reactivity, which is normally dependent on cyclooxygenase metabolism of arachidonic acid and formation of vasoactive oxygen radicals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298.
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Police
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: McKinney
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Holt
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001160:Arterioles / Q000187:drug effects; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003314:Corn Oil / Q000494:pharmacology; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005395:Fish Oils; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D003314:Corn Oil; D000109:Acetylcholine; D001920:Bradykinin