title: Fish oil increases the release of tumour necrosis factor and interleukin-6, and has no effect on the incidence of multiple organ failure in rats with peritonitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find out if fish oil given intraperitoneally would cause a reduction in the release of tumour necrosis factor and interleukin-6 in abdominal exudate and blood (experiment A), and if it reduces the incidence of organ failure in rats with peritonitis (experiment B).
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory experiment.
  
  
  METHODS
  University animal laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six selectively decontaminated rats in each experiment.
  
  
  METHODS
  All rats were pretreated with 2 ml fish oil, lecithin, or saline, intraperitoneally for one or six weeks before intraperitoneal injection of zymosan. Experiment A: Samples of abdominal exudate and plasma were taken regularly for 24 hours after the zymosan had been given. Experiment B: Clinical, biochemical, and histological variables were measured over a 12-day period after the zymosan had been given.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experiment A: Concentrations of tumour necrosis factor and interleukin-6 in abdominal exudate and plasma. Experiment B: Incidence of multiple organ failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Experiment A: Concentrations of tumour necrosis factor and interleukin-6 in abdominal exudate and plasma were significantly higher in rats pretreated with fish oil, compared with control rats. This effect was more pronounced after six weeks of pretreatment. Experiment B: There were no significant differences between the groups for any variable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fish oil given intraperitoneally increased rather than reduced local and systemic release of tumour necrosis factor and interleukin-6, and did not reduce the incidence of organ failure in rats with sterile peritonitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Groningen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grond
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Buurman
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: de Smet
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Jonge
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sietsma
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Schilfgaarde
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Bleichrodt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D005395:Fish Oils; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha