Short term dietary fish oil supplementation improves motor deficiencies related to reserpine-induced parkinsonism in rats

Lipids. 2011 Feb;46(2):143-9. doi: 10.1007/s11745-010-3514-0. Epub 2010 Dec 16.

Abstract

Fish oil (FO) supplementation could cause an increase in the concentration of plasmatic free fatty acids and, consequently, could compete with pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid (ARA) derived from brain biomembranes metabolism in the cerebrospinal fluid. Essential fatty acids (EFA) (n-3) have been reported by their antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, and therefore the influence of the FO supplementation on the reserpine-induced motor disorders was studied. Wistar rats were orally treated with FO solution for 5 days, and co-treated with reserpine (R; 1 mg/kg/mL) or its vehicle for 3 days (every other day). Reserpine-induced orofacial dyskinesia and catalepsy (P < 0.05) were prevented by FO (P < 0.05). Biochemical evaluations showed that reserpine treatment increased the lipid peroxidation in the cortex and striatum (P < 0.05), while the FO supplementation prevented this oxidative effect in both brain regions (P < 0.05). Our results showed the protective role of FO in the brain lipid membranes, reinforcing the beneficial effect of n-3 fatty acids in the prevention of degenerative and motor disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Catalepsy / chemically induced
  • Catalepsy / physiopathology
  • Catalepsy / prevention & control*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fish Oils / administration & dosage
  • Fish Oils / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Movement Disorders / etiology
  • Movement Disorders / physiopathology
  • Movement Disorders / prevention & control*
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / chemically induced
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / prevention & control*
  • Protective Agents / administration & dosage
  • Protective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reserpine / toxicity

Substances

  • Fish Oils
  • Protective Agents
  • Reserpine