title: Fish oil omega-3 fatty acids reduce the severity of radiation-induced oxidative stress in the rat brain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the modulator role of fish oil (FO) on some biochemical changes in the brain of gamma-irradiated rats (RAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Male albino rats Sprague Dawley were divided into four groups (n = 10). (i)
  
  
  METHODS
  received vehicle via gavages during 28 days; (ii) FO: received fish oil (400 mg/kg/day) via gavages during 28 days; (iii) RAD: received vehicle for 7 days before whole body gamma-irradiation with 8 Gy given in four fractions each 7 days apart and continued during the irradiation period; and (iv) FO+ RAD: received FO for 7 days before exposure to the first dose of irradiation and FO treatment was continued during the irradiation period. Animals were sacrificed 24 hours post the last irradiation dose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (CO) content associated with a significant decrease of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and glutathione (GSH) content were recorded in the brain of irradiated rats. Oxidative stress was accompanied by a significant decrease of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) levels. Aspartic (Asp) and glutamic (Glu) acid levels were increased. Serotonin level showed a decrease associated with enhanced monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and increased 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) level. FO treatment reduced the severity of radiation-induced oxidative stress, alteration of Asp and Glu levels and serotonin metabolism concomitant with increased EPA and DHA levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FO attenuates the severity of radiation-induced biochemical disorders in the brain by counteracting the radiation-induced decrease of EPA and DHA. Further studies are needed concerning the long-term implications of our findings.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Biology Department National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Atomic Energy Authority , Cairo.
authors.forename: Helen N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Saada
authors.forename: Ussama Z
authors.initials: UZ
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Elsayed M E
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mahdy
authors.forename: Hattem E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Elmezayen
authors.forename: Shereen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shedid
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: Fish oil; amino acids; brain; oxidative stress; radiation; serotonin