A. Leaf et al., Functional and electrophysiologic effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on excitable tissues: heart and brain, PROS LEUK E, 60(5-6), 1999, pp. 307-312
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Cell & Developmental Biology
Journal title
PROSTAGLANDINS LEUKOTRIENES AND ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
It has been shown in animals and probably in humans, that n-3 polyunsaturat
ed fatty acids (PUFAs) are antiarrhythmic. The free PUFAs stabilize the ele
ctrical activity of isolated cardiac myocytes by inhibiting sarcolemmal ion
channels, so that a stronger electrical stimulus is required to elicit an
action potential and the relative refractory period is markedly prolonged,
This appears at present to be the probable major antiarrhythmic mechanism o
f the PUFAs. They similarly inhibit the Na+ and Ca2+ currents in rat hippoc
ampal neurons which results in an increase in the electrical threshold for
generalized seizures using the cortical stimulation model in rats.