title: Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid rich menhaden oil and MaxEPA on the autoimmune disease of Mrl/l mice.
abstract: The Mrl lpr/lpr (Mrl/l) mouse is a model for systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis in humans. The diet of Mrl/l mice was supplemented with EPA (see Introduction) in menhaden oil or in the commerical fish oil MaxEPA. The survival of mice was not affected by the dietary manipulations. The addition of menhaden oil decreased the severity of the renal pathology. However, MaxEPA containing the same amount of eicosapentaenoic acid was considerably less effective. A diet deficient in polyunsaturated fatty acids did not ameliorate any manifestations of the disease. Anti-DNA antibody levels in serum were not influenced by the therapy. Myocardial abscesses and/or ulcerating valvular lesions were observed in about one third of the mice, irrespective of the diet given.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Westberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarkowski
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Svalander
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; C045153:Maxepa; C033266:Menhaden oil; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid