title: The effectiveness of fish oil supplementation in asthmatic rats is limited by an inefficient action on ASM function.
abstract: Episodes of acute exacerbation are the major clinical feature of asthma and therefore represent an important focus for developing novel therapies for this disease. There are many reports that the n-3 fatty acids found in fish oil exert anti-inflammatory effects, but there are few studies of the action of fish oil on airway smooth muscle (ASM) function. In the present investigation, we evaluated the effect of fish oil supplementation on smooth muscle force of contraction in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic Wistar rats, and its consequences on static lung compliance, mucus production, leukocyte chemotaxis and production of proinflammatory cytokines. Fish oil supplementation suppressed the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lung in asthmatic animals (2.04 ± 0.19 × 10(6) cells vs. 3.33 ± 0.43 × 10(6) cells in the control asthmatic group; P < 0.05). Static lung compliance increased with fish oil supplementation in asthmatic rats (0.640 ± 0.053 mL/cm H2O vs. 0.399 ± 0.043 mL/cm H2O; P < 0.05). However, fish oil did not prevent asthma-associated lung eosinophilia and did not affect the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β in lung tissue or the proportion of the airways obliterated with mucus. Fish oil had no effect on the force of contraction in asthmatic rats in response to acetylcholine (3.026 ± 0.274 mN vs. 2.813 ± 0.364 mN in the control asthmatic group). In conclusion, although fish oil exerts some benefits in this model of asthma, its effectiveness appears to be limited by an inefficient action on airway smooth muscle function.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Centro Politécnico, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Jardim das Américas, Curitiba, CEP 81531-990, Brazil. dalvazardo@ufpr.br
authors.forename: D T S Z
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Zanatta
authors.forename: B C L
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: R T H
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Fogaça
authors.forename: J B B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Donatti
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Calder
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008170:Lung Compliance / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D010047:Ovalbumin; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D005395:Fish Oils; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010047:Ovalbumin; D007545:Isoproterenol; D000109:Acetylcholine