title: Dietary omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids augment endothelium-dependent relaxation to bradykinin in coronary microvessels of the pig.
abstract: 1. The effects of chronic dietary supplementation with omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on endothelium-dependent relaxations were examined in isolated coronary microvessels of the pig. 2. Animals were maintained for four weeks with or without dietary supplementation of purified eicosapentaenoic acid (3.5 g daily) and docosahexaenoic acid (1.5 g daily). Fatty acid profiles of plasma lipids showed that only the fraction of eicosapentaenoic acid increased by the treatment, together with a decrease of that of arachidonic acid. 3. In the treated group, endothelium-dependent relaxations to bradykinin were significantly augmented, while contractions to acetylcholine or relaxations to nitroprusside were unaltered. 4. These results indicate that dietary omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (mainly eicosapentaenoic acid) augment endothelium-dependent relaxations in coronary microvessels of the pig, without changing the ability of vascular smooth muscle to contract or relax.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimokawa
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Aarhus
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Vanhoutte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D001920:Bradykinin