title: Neuroprotective Effects of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in a Rat Model of Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) administration in a rat model of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (rAION).
  
  
  
  The level of blood arachidonic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid (AA/EPA) was measured to determine the suggested dosage. The rAION-induced rats were administered fish oil (1 g/day EPA) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) by daily gavage for 10 consecutive days to evaluate the neuroprotective effects.
  
  
  
  Blood fatty acid analysis showed that the AA/EPA ratio was reduced from 17.6 to ≤1.5 after 10 days of fish oil treatment. The retinal ganglion cell (RGC) densities and the P1-N2 amplitude of flash visual-evoked potentials (FVEP) were significantly higher in the ω-3 PUFA-treated group, compared with the PBS-treated group (P < 0.05). The number of apoptotic cells in the RGC layer of the ω-3 PUFA-treated rats was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) compared with that of the PBS-treated rats. Treatment with ω-3 PUFAs reduced the macrophage recruitment at the optic nerve (ON) by 3.17-fold in the rAION model. The M2 macrophage markers, which decrease inflammation, were induced in the ω-3 PUFA-treated group in contrast to the PBS-treated group. In addition, the mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and inducible nitric oxide synthase were significantly reduced in the ω-3 PUFA-treated group.
  
  
  
  The administration of ω-3 PUFAs has neuroprotective effects in rAION, possibly through dual actions of the antiapoptosis of RGCs and anti-inflammation via decreasing inflammatory cell infiltration, as well as the regulation of macrophage polarization to decrease the cytokine-induced injury of the ON.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Tassos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Eye Research, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yao-Tseng
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan 4Department of Dermatology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chung-Hsing
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kolovos
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalogerou
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Ekatherine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prokopiou
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neokleous
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin-Te
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Eye Research, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan 5Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Rong-Kung
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3