EFFECT OF DIETARY N-3 FATTY-ACIDS ON HYPOXIA-INDUCED NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS IN YOUNG MICE - N-3 FATTY-ACIDS ALTER PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR AND LEUKOTRIENE B-4 PRODUCTION IN THE INTESTINE

Necrotizing entercolitis (NEC) is an important neonatal disease with a high mortality rate. Inflammatory mediators, such as mainly platelet- activating factor (PAF), leukotrienes (LT) and tumor necrosis factor p lay an important role in the genesis of NEC. Diets in Omega-3 (n-3) fa tty acids appear to have an antiinflammatory effect, which is thought to be due to decreased active prostaglandins and leukotrienes producti on after incorporation of these fatty acids into cell membrane phospho lipids. We investigated the protective effect of fish oil (source of n -3 fatty acids) on hypoxia-induced model of NEC. Young mice were divid ed into three groups; group 1 mice were fed standard chow (n-3 fatty a cids-free), group 2 was fed a chow supplemented by 10% fish oil for 4 weeks. Group 3 mice served as control. We examined the intestinal lesi ons by light microscopy and measured intestinal tissue PAF and LB4 lev els in hypoxia-induced model of NEC. Significantly increased intestina l PAF and LTB4 levels were found in group 1 mice when compared to grou p 2 and group 3 mice. The histopathology of the intestinal lesions in group 1 animals was characteristic of ischemic injury. In the n-3 fatt y acids-supplemented animals these lesions were milder. The present st udy shows that endogenously released PAF and LTB4 play an important ro le in mediating hypoxia-induced intestinal necrosis. The present study also suggests that dietary supple mentation with n-3 fatty acids supp ress intestinal PAF and LTB4 generation in hypoxia-induced bowel necro sis. The intestinal protective effect of n-3 fatty acids in an experim ental model of NEC may open new insight into the treatment and prevent ation of NEC in neonates.