Omega-3 fatty acids reduce hepatic steatosis and consequently attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury following partial hepatectomy in rats

• Published in: Digestive and liver disease Vol. 43; no. 12; pp. 984 - 990
• Main Authors: Marsman, Hendrik A, Heger, Michal, Kloek, Jaap J, Nienhuis, Syert L, ten Kate, Fiebo J.W, van Gulik, Thomas M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2011
• Subjects: Alanine Transaminase - blood; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Choline Deficiency; Dietary Supplements; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated - analysis; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - therapeutic use; Fatty Liver - drug therapy; Fatty Liver - pathology; Fatty Liver - physiopathology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Hepatectomy; Hepatic steatosis; Ischemia reperfusion injury; Liver - metabolism; Liver - pathology; Liver - physiopathology; Male; Methionine - deficiency; Omega-3 fatty acids; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reperfusion Injury - pathology; Reperfusion Injury - physiopathology; Reperfusion Injury - prevention & control; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Ischemia reperfusion injury; Omega-3 fatty acids; Hepatic steatosis
• ISSN: 1590-8658; 1878-3562
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2011.07.009

Abstract Aim The aim of this study was to investigate omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) treatment of experimental steatosis and the consequent effect on ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Background Fatty livers are more susceptible to IR injury and display decreased regenerative capacity. Consequently, restrictions exist for patients with fatty livers to undergo a major hepatectomy or to participate in living donor liver transplantation. Until recently, weight reduction constituted the only proven therapy for patients with fatty livers. Methods Steatosis was induced by a 3-wk methionine/choline-deficient diet, followed by oral administration of omega-3 FAs (Omega-3), standard lipid solution (Lipid), or NaCl (Saline) during 2 wk. Control animals received a standard diet without treatment. Rats underwent partial (70%) hepatic IR combined with partial hepatectomy (PHx) of the non-ischemic lobes (30%) followed by 24-h reperfusion. Results Histological analysis revealed mild (5–33%) macrovesicular steatosis in omega-3-treated animals vs. severe (>66%) macrovesicular steatosis in both Lipid and Saline groups. Following IR/PHx, omega-3-treated rats exhibited reduced serum ALT levels after 6- and 24-h reperfusion, a reduced hepatic TNF-α content, and an improved anti-oxidative capacity. Conclusions Omega-3 treatment significantly reduces experimental hepatic steatosis and associated pathophysiological features, resulting in significantly reduced IR injury following PHx.