Chronic administration of ethyl docosahexaenoate decreases mortality and cerebral edema in ischemic gerbils.

Abstract

Dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake can decrease the level of membrane arachidonic acid (AA), which is liberated during cerebral ischemia and implicated in the pathogenesis of brain damage. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of chronic ethyl docosahexaenoate (E-DHA) administration on mortality and cerebral edema induced by transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils. Male Mongolian gerbils were orally pretreated with either E-DHA (100, 150 mg/kg) or vehicle, once a day, for 4 weeks and were subjected to transient forebrain ischemia by bilateral common carotid occlusion for 30 min. The content of brain lipid AA at the termination of treatment, the survival ratio, change of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), brain free AA level, thromboxane B(2) (TXB(2)) production and cerebral edema formation following ischemia and reperfusion were evaluated. E-DHA (150 mg/kg) pretreatment significantly increased survival ratio, prevented post-ischemic hypoperfusion and attenuated cerebral edema after reperfusion compared with vehicle, which was well associated with the reduced levels of AA and TXB(2) in the E-DHA treated brain. These data suggest that the effects of E-DHA pretreatment on ischemic mortality and cerebral edema could be due to reduction of free AA liberation and accumulation, and its metabolite synthesis after ischemia and reperfusion by decreasing the content of membrane AA.

• Authors: Dehua Cao, Mei Li, Renhao Xue, Weifa Zheng, Zhili Liu, Xiaomei Wang
• Journal: Life sciences (Life Sci) Vol. 78 Issue 1 Pg. 74-81 (Nov 19 2005) ISSN: 0024-3205 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 16214179 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Fatty Acids
• Docosahexaenoic Acids
• Arachidonic Acid
• Thromboxane B2

Topics

• Animals
• Arachidonic Acid (metabolism)
• Body Water (metabolism)
• Brain (pathology)
• Brain Chemistry (drug effects)
• Brain Edema (pathology, prevention & control)
• Cerebrovascular Circulation (drug effects)
• Docosahexaenoic Acids (pharmacology)
• Fatty Acids (metabolism)
• Gerbillinae
• Ischemic Attack, Transient (complications, mortality)
• Male
• Survival Analysis
• Thromboxane B2 (metabolism)