PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Ahmet Kavakli AU - Evren Kose AU - Ilter Kus AU - Ismail Zararsiz AU - Nusret Akpolat AU - Mustafa Sarsilmaz TI - Protective effect of omega-3 fatty acids in a rat focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model DP - 2007 Jul 01 TA - Neurosciences Journal PG - 198--201 VI - 12 IP - 3 4099 - http://nsj.org.sa/content/12/3/198.short 4100 - http://nsj.org.sa/content/12/3/198.full SO - Neurosciences (Riyadh)2007 Jul 01; 12 AB - OBJECTIVE: To investigate possible neuroprotective effects of dietary supplementation of fish oil in brain ischemia-reperfusion (I/R).METHODS: This investigation took place in the Experimental Research Unit, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey, from January-February 2006. The study was carried out on 12 male Wistar rats; divided into 2 groups: I/R (control) and I/R + omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA) (experiment). The rats in the I/R group received only ordinary rat food before middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. The I/R + omega-3 EFA group received omega-3 fatty acid daily via intragastric gavage (300 mg/kg Marincap capsule) with normal food before MCA occlusion for 30 days. Structural alterations in the brain tissues were semi-quantitatively analyzed (0: absent, +: slight, ++: moderate, +++: severe).RESULTS: There was evident severe (+++) edema, vacuolization, and eosinophilic degeneration in the I/R group, while only slight (+) edema and eosinophilic degeneration in the I/R + omega-3 EFA group in which no vacuolization was determined. These findings are consistent with the available studies in this field.CONCLUSION: Results from this study indicate the beneficial effects of omega-3 EFA supplementation in prevention of I/R - induced damage in rats.