DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID EXHIBITS A POTENT PROTECTION OF SMALL-INTESTINE FROM METHOTREXATE-INDUCED DAMAGE IN MICE

Oral administration of methotrexate (MTX) to mice causes the damage of small intestine. The permeability of poorly absorbable compound fluor escein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled dextran (average molecular weight , 4,400) through the small intestine was studied in vitro using everte d segments of the small intestine. The permeability of FITC-dextran in creased remarkably in the MTX-treated mice and oral administration of docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA) protected the small intestine f rom the increase in the small intestinal permeability induced by the M TX treatment. The MTX treatment decreased retinol concentration in pla sma of mice and the coadministration of DHA maintained its concentrati on to the level of control mice. The present study showed that DHA pro tected the small intestine of mice from the MTX-induced damage.