EFFECTS OF DIETARY DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID ON SURVIVAL-TIME AND STROKE-RELATED BEHAVIOR IN STROKE-PRONE SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

1. Dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) suppressed the age dependent inc rease in systolic blood pressure and prolonged the average survival ti me of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). 2. Dietary DHA. (1% and 5% in diets) altered the circadian rhythm of SHRSP, caus ing significant increases in ambulatory activity during the dark perio d. At the onset of stroke, desynchronization with light and dark phase s and new biological rhythms were noted in all of the control SHRSP (D HA 0%). DHA-treated SHRSP did not show such behavioral changes. 3. The se effects were accompanied by the increase of DHA and the decrease of AA levels in plasma and brain cortex. 4. It was concluded that dietar y DHA suppresses the development of hypertension and stroke related be havioral changes, resulting in prolongation of the SHRSP's life span. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.