Published online Jul 7, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i25.3288
Revised: January 12, 2012
Accepted: April 10, 2012
Published online: July 7, 2012
AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) administration on liver regeneration after 90% partial hepatectomy (PH) in rats.
METHODS: ω-3 PUFAs were intravenously injected in the ω-3 PUFA group before PH surgery. PH, sparing only the caudate lobe, was performed in both the control and the ω-3 PUFA group. Survival rates, liver weight/body weight ratios, liver weights, HE staining, transmission electron microscope imaging, nuclear-associated antigen Ki-67, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and signal transduction were evaluated to analyze liver regeneration.
RESULTS: All rats in the control group died within 30 h after hepatectomy. Survival rates in the ω-3 PUFA group were 20/20 at 30 h and 4/20 1 wk after PH. Liver weight/body weight ratios and liver weights increased significantly in the ω-3 PUFA group. The structure of sinusoidal endothelial cells and space of Disse was greatly restored in the ω-3 PUFA group compared to the control group after PH. In the ω-3 PUFA group, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 levels were significantly increased whereas IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were dramatically decreased. In addition, activation of protein kinase B (Akt) and of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway were identified at an earlier time after PH in the ω-3 PUFA group.
CONCLUSION: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may prevent acute liver failure and promote liver regeneration after 90% hepatectomy in rats.