Cardioprotective effects of fish omega-3 fatty acids on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats

• Published in: Human & experimental toxicology Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 435 - 445
• Main Authors: Uygur, R, Aktas, C, Tulubas, F, Alpsoy, S, Topcu, B, Ozen, OA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.04.2014; Sage Publications; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic - toxicity; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antineoplastic agents; Apoptosis; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiotonic Agents - pharmacology; Cardiovascular disease; Chemotherapy; Doxorubicin - toxicity; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Fish oils; Heart - drug effects; Male; Medical sciences; Oxidative stress; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rodents; Toxicity; Toxicology; apoptosis; cardiotoxicity; fish omega-3 fatty acids; Doxorubicin; oxidative stress; Antineoplastic agent; Oxidative stress; Rat; Toxicity; Lipids; Cardiovascular disease; n-3 fatty acid; Isomerases; Heart disease; Pisces; Fish; Food; DNA topoisomerase (ATP-hydrolysing); Enzyme; Rodentia; Cardioprotective agent; Polyunsaturated fatty acid; Enzyme inhibitor; Animal origin; Topoisomerase II inhibitor; Vertebrata; Antibiotic; Mammalia; Cell death; Animal; Unsaturated fatty acid; Anthracyclins; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 0960-3271; 1477-0903
• DOI: 10.1177/0960327113493304

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of fish omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced acute cardiotoxicity. A total of 24 rats were divided into three groups: control, DOX-treated, and DOX treated with fish n-3 fatty acids. Control group received 0.4 ml/kg/day of saline intragastrically. The rats in the fish n-3 fatty acid-pretreated group were given 400 mg/kg/day fish n-3 fatty acids for 30 days by intragastric intubation. To induce acute cardiotoxicity, DOX (30 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally by a single dose and the rats were killed after 48 h. DOX treatment caused severe damage in heart tissues. Disorganization of myocardial muscle fibers, myofibrillar loss, and cardiotoxic myocardial fibers with cytoplasmic vacuoles were seen. Fish n-3 fatty acid-treated rats showed an improved histological appearance in the DOX-treated group. Our data indicate a significant reduction in the activity of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling in cardiomyocytes of the DOX-treated group with fish n-3 fatty acids therapy. The DOX-treated with fish n-3 fatty acids group showed a significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels, and an increase in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in comparison with the DOX-treated group. This study showed that fish n-3 fatty acids may be a suitable cardioprotector against acute toxic effects of DOX.