Long-term administration of highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester improves the dysfunction of vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells in male WBN/Kob rats

We investigated the effect of long-term administration of highly purified e icosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA-E), an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid , on the dysfunction of the endothelium and smooth muscle cells in male WBN /Kob rats, a model of spontaneous diabetes mellitus. After oral I-month tre atment with EPA-E, the agent significantly and dose-dependently increased t he migration activity of vascular endothelial cells and also decreased 5-br omodeoxyuridine (BrdU) uptake by vascular smooth muscle cells at a dose of 0.1 g/kg or higher. In addition, there were significant correlations betwee n the endothelial cell migration or smooth muscle cell proliferation and th e 4-hour fasting glucose level. These findings suggest that EPA-E has a sup pressive effect on thrombosis and atherosclerosis. Copyright (C) 2000 by WB . Saunders Company.