A diet enriched in longer chain omega-3 fatty acids reduced placental inflammatory cytokines and improved fetal sustainability of C57BL/6 mice

Publication date: Available online 1 September 2018Source: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty AcidsAuthor(s): O.A Akerele, S.K CheemaAbstractOmega (n)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are important regulators of inflammatory response that may impact pregnancy outcome. The effects of breeding chow diets containing n-3 PUFA from either fish oil (FO) or soybean oil (SO) were investigated on tissue fatty acid composition, inflammatory cytokines and pregnancy outcome. Female C57BL/6 mice (7 weeks old) were fed FO or SO diets for 2 weeks before mating and throughout pregnancy. Animals were sacrificed before and during pregnancy at day 6.5, 12.5 and 18.5. The FO diet increased the incorporation of n-3 PUFA in placenta, with a concomitant decrease in the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The FO diet increased the mRNA expression of placental specific PUFA transporter, which coincided with accretion of n-3 PUFA in fetal brain. Sites of fetal resorption were noticeable in the SO group but not in the FO group. N-3 PUFA may improve fetal sustainability via altering cytokine levels.
Source: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids (PLEFA) - Category: Lipidology Source Type: research