The DBA/2FG-pcy strain of mouse has been developed as an animal model for
adult polycystic kidney disease and we have determined the effects of feeding an
n-3 fatty acid-enriched diet on kidney morphology and the
fatty acid compositions of the constituent
phospholipid and
triglyceride fractions in this strain. Twelve male and female DBA/2FG-pcy mice were fed lab chow or semi-purified diets containing
sunflower seed oil (SO) or a
n-3 fatty acid-enriched concentrate (
MaxEPA) for 60 days. At necropsy, blood and urine samples were taken and the kidneys processed for examination by light microscopy. Gas-liquid chromatography of the
fatty acids in the kidney
lipids was also performed. Male and female mice fed the
MaxEPA-based diet tended to have lower mean kidney weights. Hematocrits, blood
urea, and serum
creatinine levels were similar among the lab chow-, SO- and
MaxEPA-fed groups. All the groups exhibited a moderate
hematuria; the incidence of this symptom was lowest in the
MaxEPA-fed male animals. Extensive tubular dilatation was apparent in the cortices and medullae from the lab chow-fed animals; these lesions were slightly less severe in the SO-fed group and least severe in kidneys from the
MaxEPA-fed animals. By morphometry, the renal area occupied by
cysts was also lowest in the male
Max-EPA-fed group; females fed the
MaxEPA-based diet did not show a marked decrease in the proportion of kidney area occupied by
cysts.
Fatty acid compositions of the total
phospholipid and
triglyceride fractions from kidneys of male mice fed the
MaxEPA-based diet showed a reciprocal replacement of the
n-6 fatty acids with the
n-3 fatty acids compared to kidneys from males fed the SO-based diet.