EFFECT OF DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID ON AZOXYMETHANE-INDUCED COLON CARCINOGENESIS IN RATS

The effect of intragastric gavage administration of docosahexaenoic ac id (DHA) on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats wa s studied. Male F344 rats were treated s.c. with 15 mg/kg of AOM once a week for 2 weeks and were given either 0.7 ml of DHA or water intrag astrically twice a week starting the day before the first carcinogen t reatment. The number and crypt multiplicity (number of crypts/focus) o f aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon were measured after 4, 12, an d 36 weeks. The numbers and average crypt multiplicities of ACF induce d by AOM were significantly lower after 12 and 36 weeks in animals giv en DHA. DHA also reduced the incidence of spontaneous ACF in animals w ithout carcinogen treatment. Colorectal tumor incidence and number of tumors per rat after 36 weeks were slightly, but not significantly, lo wer in the DHA-treated group. These results suggest that DHA slightly suppresses colon carcinogenesis, and a possibility that warrants furth er study.