Influence of an omega-3 fatty acid-enriched ration on in vivo responses of horses to endotoxin.
Because certain inflammatory processes are dependent on the fatty acid composition of the cellular membrane, dietary manipulations that replace omega-6 fatty acids with omega-3 fatty acids may modify inflammatory responses. We investigated the effect of supplemental dietary linseed oil, containing the omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid, on in vivo responses of horses to endotoxin. One group of horses (n = 6) was fed a control pelleted ration (0% linseed oil), and another group of horses (n = 6) was fed an 8% linseed oil pelleted ration. After 8 weeks of consuming these rations, all horses were given 0.03 micrograms of Escherichia coli 055:B5 endotoxin/kg of body weight, infused over 30 minutes. Horses were monitored over 24 hours. Compared with baseline values within each ration group, endotoxin infusion caused significant (P less than 0.05) increase in rectal temperature, heart rate, and plasma concentration of thromboxane B2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, and fibrinogen and significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in total WBC count. Compared with baseline values within each ration group, endotoxin infusion failed to cause significant changes in prothrombin, activated partial thromboplastin, thrombin, or whole blood recalcification times, serum concentration of fibrin degradation products, PCV, or plasma total protein concentration. Before and after endotoxin infusion, horses given the linseed oil ration had longer mean whole blood recalcification time and activated partial thromboplastin time than did horses fed the control ration.
Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
M M
MM
Henry
J N
JN
Moore
J K
JK
Fischer
D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000097:blood; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006736:Horses; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000097:blood; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D004731:Endotoxins; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D013929:Thromboxane B2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; C044101:endotoxin, Escherichia coli; D008043:Linseed Oil