Effects of dietary supplementation with n-3 fatty acids on kidney morphology and the fatty acid composition of phospholipids and triglycerides from mice with polycystic kidney disease.
The DBA/2FG-pcy strain of mouse has been developed as an animal model for adult polycystic kidney disease and we have determined the effects of feeding an n-3 fatty acid-enriched diet on kidney morphology and the fatty acid compositions of the constituent phospholipid and triglyceride fractions in this strain. Twelve male and female DBA/2FG-pcy mice were fed lab chow or semi-purified diets containing sunflower seed oil (SO) or a n-3 fatty acid-enriched concentrate (MaxEPA) for 60 days. At necropsy, blood and urine samples were taken and the kidneys processed for examination by light microscopy. Gas-liquid chromatography of the fatty acids in the kidney lipids was also performed. Male and female mice fed the MaxEPA-based diet tended to have lower mean kidney weights. Hematocrits, blood urea, and serum creatinine levels were similar among the lab chow-, SO- and MaxEPA-fed groups. All the groups exhibited a moderate hematuria; the incidence of this symptom was lowest in the MaxEPA-fed male animals. Extensive tubular dilatation was apparent in the cortices and medullae from the lab chow-fed animals; these lesions were slightly less severe in the SO-fed group and least severe in kidneys from the MaxEPA-fed animals. By morphometry, the renal area occupied by cysts was also lowest in the male Max-EPA-fed group; females fed the MaxEPA-based diet did not show a marked decrease in the proportion of kidney area occupied by cysts. Fatty acid compositions of the total phospholipid and triglyceride fractions from kidneys of male mice fed the MaxEPA-based diet showed a reciprocal replacement of the n-6 fatty acids with the n-3 fatty acids compared to kidneys from males fed the SO-based diet.
Yamaguchi
T
T
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Valli
V E
VE
Philbrick
D
D
Holub
B
B
Yoshida
K
K
Takahashi
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D007690:Polycystic Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism*
D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D003404:Creatinine