title: Effects of fish oil containing eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on dystrophic mdx mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and in the mdx mouse model of DMD, the lack of dystrophin leads to muscle degeneration and inflammation contributes to progression of the disease. In this study, we evaluated the effects of commercially available fish oil containing EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on mdx.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mdx mice (14 days old) were treated with fish oil (FDC Vitamins; 0.002 g EPA and 0.001 g DHA) for 16 days by gavage. Control mdx mice received mineral oil (Nujol). Grip strength measurement was used for functional evaluation. The sternomastoid, diaphragm and biceps brachii muscles were removed and processed for histopathology and Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fish oil decreased creatine kinase and myonecrosis. In all muscles studied, the inflammatory area was significantly reduced after treatment (18.0 ± 3.0% inflammatory area in untreated mdx mice versus 4.0 ± 1% in treated mdx mice). Fish oil protected against the loss of muscle strength. Fish oil significantly reduced the levels of TNF-α and the levels of 4-HNE-protein adducts (30-34% reduction for both) in all muscles studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Commercially available fish oil may be potentially useful to ameliorate dystrophic progression of skeletal muscles, deserving further clinical trials in DMD patients.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fogagnolo Mauricio
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Minatel
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Santo Neto
authors.forename: Maria Julia
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016189:Dystrophin / Q000378:metabolism; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018101:Mice, Inbred mdx; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016189:Dystrophin; D005395:Fish Oils; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D003402:Creatine Kinase