IMMUNOSTIMULATION FOLLOWING FISH OIL-BASED PARENTERAL-NUTRITION IN TUMOR-BEARING RATS

Tumor-bearing (TB) and control rats were maintained for four to seven days on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in which the lipid component (11.1% of total calories) was Intralipid or fish oil. Although no TB r ats maintained on standard Intralipid-based TPN died prematurely in th ese cations by Day 4 of TPN infusion. The bleeding appeared to be due to the particle size in the fish hypoplasia were not reduced in the TB group maintained on fish oil-based TPN. However, immunosuppression ob served in the Intralipid-based TPN group, as measured by mitogen respo nse Levels of eicosapentaenoic acid were reduced in all rats receiving TPN. Although the hypothesized antitumor and anticachexia effects of fish oil administration Mere not realized significant improvement in i mmunosuppression was noted. These results suggest that intravenously a dministered fish oil may have potential positive effects for the host.