title: Protective effect of omega-3 fatty acids on diethylnitrosamine toxicity in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of n-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) on diethylnitrosamine (DEN) toxicity with respect to alterations including nitric oxide (NO) formation, uric acid level as well as some liver related enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty male Wistar albino rats were used as animal materials. Animals were divided into 4 groups and treated as follows: Rats in group 1 (control) were intraperitoneally (i.p) injected with single dose of saline; rats in group 2 were i.p. injected with DEN at a dose of 150 mg/kg/body weight; rats in group 3 were treated with DEN (via single i.p. injection at 150 mg/kg/body weight) plus n-3 FA (at a dose of 0.4 g /kg/day via subcutaneous route in fish oil) for 7 days, and group 4 received n-3 FA via s.c. route at a dose of 0.4 g/kg/day in fish oil for 7 days. The plasma samples were analyzed for NO, uric acid levels as well as for activities of AST, ALT and ALP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uric acid level was lower in DEN group than in control. In addition, NO level and AST, ALT, ALP activities in DEN group were significantly higher than in control. Nitric oxide concentration, ALT and ALP activities in DEN + n-3 FA treated rats were lower than in DEN alone. Uric acid level in DEN + n-3 FA group was higher than in DEN group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that n-3 fatty acids could ameliorate the toxic effects of DEN in part by means of its free radical scavenging activity and may be of therapeutic value in the protection of liver against toxic effects of DEN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Art and Science, University of Kafkas, Kars, Turkey. onuratakisi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Atakisi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Atakisi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozcan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karapehlivan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D014527:Uric Acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine