title: Effect of dietary supplementation with fish oil on cyclosporine A-induced vascular toxicity.
abstract: We wished to determine whether dietary supplementation with fish oil prevents the vascular toxicity of cyclosporine (Cx). In a first set of experiments, we assessed the endothelial function of aortas isolated from rats supplemented for 6 weeks with fish oil (FO), administered by gavage, and providing 150 mg/kg/day of eicosapentaenoic acid and 100 mg/kg/day of docosahexaenoic acid. FO treatment altered neither acetylcholine- and histamine-induced relaxations, nor serotonin-induced contractions (NS vs. control group). Thereafter, three groups of rats were treated in parallel. Group 1 received FO supplementation (by gavage) for 6 weeks, and Cx (10 mg/kg/day po) was added during the last 2 weeks, group 2 received Cx only (10 mg/kg/day po) for 2 weeks, and group 3 served as a control. Both acetylcholine-and histamine-induced relaxations were reduced in group 2 compared with the control group, as indicated by the area under the curve (AUC), which was significantly higher: 296 +/- 17 vs. 138 +/- 32, and 392 +/- 38 vs. 318 +/- 25 for acetylcholine and histamine, respectively. In group 1, AUC for acetylcholine remained significantly different from the control (241 +/- 31 vs. 138 +/- 32), whereas AUC for histamine was 367 +/- 28 (NS vs. control). The serotonin-induced contractions were also enhanced in group 2 compared with those of the control group, and this alteration was not attenuated in group 1. After mechanical removal of the endothelium, the increased responsiveness to serotonin persisted in groups 1 and 2, suggesting this functional alteration to be located in the smooth muscle cells. Thus, in the rat the attenuation of Cx-induced vascular toxicity by fish oil supplementation is only partial, that is, it involves a slight improvement in endothelial function, but with persistence of functional changes in smooth muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Erasme Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berkenboom
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brékine
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richelle
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Carpentier
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fontaine
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005395:Fish Oils; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D012701:Serotonin; D016572:Cyclosporine; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid