Effect of dietary fish oil on mouse ocular Herpes Simplex type I infection

Balb/c mice fed a diet containing 20% fish oil developed herpes stromal ker atitis earlier and with more severe lesions than control group. Peritoneal macrophages oxidative metabolism and intrinsic antiviral activity are not m odified by diet manipulation but nitric oxide production was significantly impaired. On the contrary, splenic lymphocytes proliferation stimulated "ex vivo" by heat inactivated HSV-1 is significantly increased as well as dela yed type hypersensitivity. So, taking into account that herpes stromal kera titis is mediated by T cells, the effect of diet over these cells could be responsible for the observed exacerbation of the disease. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.