The effects of omega-3 fatty acids on the newborn rat hyperoxic lung injury

Abstract

Objective: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is an important cause of morbidity in preterms. Inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of the disease while omega-3 fatty acids are known to have anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we examined the effects of supplementary omega-3 fatty acids on hyperoxic lung injury.

Methods: Experimental hyperoxic lung injury induced newborn 3-day-old rats were monitored in a confined hyperoxic environment with an oxygen concentration of 90–95% for a 2-week period. Rats were divided into three groups as placebo, low-dose Omega-3, and high-dose Omega-3. During the 2-week study period, low and high-dose Omega-3 groups were given 300 and 600 mg/kg/day omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) respectively, while those in placebo received the same amount of serum physiologic. At the end of the 2-week study, lungs of all the rats were removed and morphologic evaluation under light microscopy was performed. Mean cord length (L_m), alveolar surface area (S_A), and alveolar wall thickness (W_t) were calculated to find out whether a statistically significant difference between groups existed.

Results: Similar alveolar development was observed between groups. No difference was seen between mean L_m values. Although the alveolar surface area was found to be higher in high-dose omega-3 group, the difference was not considered to be statistically significant. While the widest alveolar wall thickness was observed in the placebo group, alveolar wall thickness difference between high-dose omega-3 group and placebo group was found to be statistically significant (placebo W_t=17,8 ± 2.3 µm, low-dose omega −3 W_t=15,6 ± 2,5 µm, high-dose omega −3 W_t=14,2 ± 2 µm) (p < .05).

Conclusions: Omega-3 fatty acids were observed to prevent alveolar wall thickness to some extent, though with no noticeable effect on hyperoxic lung injury.

Keywords:

• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• hyperoxia
• lung injury
• omega-3 fatty acids

Disclosure statement

This manuscript has not been published elsewhere. All authors have contributed significantly, and that all authors are in agreement with the content of the manuscript. The authors report no declarations of interest. All authors state our study does not violate the policies and/or procedures established by “The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine”.