Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids promote liver regeneration after 90% hepatectomy in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) administration on liver regeneration after 90% partial hepatectomy (PH) in rats.


METHODS
ω-3 PUFAs were intravenously injected in the ω-3 PUFA group before PH surgery. PH, sparing only the caudate lobe, was performed in both the control and the ω-3 PUFA group. Survival rates, liver weight/body weight ratios, liver weights, HE staining, transmission electron microscope imaging, nuclear-associated antigen Ki-67, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and signal transduction were evaluated to analyze liver regeneration.


RESULTS
All rats in the control group died within 30 h after hepatectomy. Survival rates in the ω-3 PUFA group were 20/20 at 30 h and 4/20 1 wk after PH. Liver weight/body weight ratios and liver weights increased significantly in the ω-3 PUFA group. The structure of sinusoidal endothelial cells and space of Disse was greatly restored in the ω-3 PUFA group compared to the control group after PH. In the ω-3 PUFA group, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 levels were significantly increased whereas IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were dramatically decreased. In addition, activation of protein kinase B (Akt) and of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway were identified at an earlier time after PH in the ω-3 PUFA group.


CONCLUSIONS
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may prevent acute liver failure and promote liver regeneration after 90% hepatectomy in rats.
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical College of Nanjing University, Jiangsu Province's Key Medical Center for Hepatobiliary Disease, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China. yudongqiu510@163.com
Yu-Dong
YD
Qiu
Sheng
S
Wang
Yue
Y
Yang
Xiao-Peng
XP
Yan
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009929:Organ Size; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494088:Stat3 protein, rat; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3