DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF FISH-OIL RICH IN EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID ENHANCES BOVINE SERUM-ALBUMIN INDUCED IMMUNE-COMPLEX NEPHRITIS IN NZB W F1-MICE/

In order to evaluate the effects of w-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid on BSA nephritis in female NZB/W Fl mice, animals were fed a diet contain ing fish oil(FO), safflower oil (SO) or beef tallow (BT) as a lipid so urce. After preimmunization 4 times with BSA, 50 mg/kg of BSA was give n intraperitoneally every day for 4 weeks. Proteinuria was demonstrate d in 50% of FO (n = 18), in 33% of BT (n=21), but only in 5% of SO (n= 19, p<0.005 vs. FO, p<0.05 vs. BT) animals. Anti-BSA antibodies did no t differ among the three groups. Circulating BSA-anti BSA immune compl exes (log, of the ratio to pooled standard sera) were - 1.3+/-0.3 in F O -2.2+/-0.4 in SO and -2.7+/-0.5 in BT (p<0.05 vs. FO) at sacrifice a t 18 weeks of age. Prostaglandin E, and thromboxane B, production by m ashed renal cortex was markedly suppressed in FO (p<0.001, vs. SO and BT). By light microscopy, FO showed more glomerular hypercellularity a nd mesangial increase than SO (p<0.001). By immunofluorescence and ele ctron microscopy, heavier mesangial and loop or subepithelial deposits were seen in FO than in SO (p<0.005). Fish oil may be involved in imm une complex formation and its clearance by suppressed prostanoid produ ction, resulting in enhanced BSA nephritis.