Dietary ω-3 fatty acids and endothelium-dependent responses in porcine cerebral arteries

• Published in: Stroke (1970) 1992-03, Vol.23 (3), p.407-413
• Main Authors: KIM, P, SHIMOKAWA, H, VANHOUTTE, P. M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenosine Diphosphate - pharmacology; Animals; Basilar Artery - drug effects; Basilar Artery - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Bradykinin - pharmacology; Cerebral circulation. Blood-brain barrier. Choroid plexus. Cerebrospinal fluid. Circumventricular organ. Meninges; Dietary Fats - pharmacology; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - physiology; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Indomethacin - pharmacology; Male; Potassium Chloride - pharmacology; Swine; Vasoconstriction; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0039-2499; 1524-4628
• DOI: 10.1161/01.str.23.3.407

We sought to determine the effect of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on cerebrovascular endothelium-dependent responses in studies performed on isolated porcine basilar arteries. Male Yorkshire pigs (6-8 weeks old) were kept for 4 weeks on a standard diet (control group, n = 12) or on chow supplemented with polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid, 3.5 g/day, or docosahexaenoic acid, 1.5 g/day; treated group, n = 12). Isometric tension recording of the basilar artery was carried out and responses were compared between the two groups. The regimen resulted in a decrease in the plasma arachidonic acid level and an increase in eicosapentaenoic acid. Endothelium-dependent relaxations induced by bradykinin and adenosine diphosphate were augmented in the basilar arteries of the treated group. Incubation with indomethacin (10(-5) M) prevented the augmentation of the relaxations induced by bradykinin, but not those caused by adenosine diphosphate. The indomethacin-sensitive, endothelium-dependent contractions to arachidonic acid remained comparable in the two groups, indicating that the activity of cyclooxygenase was not affected by the diet. Dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids enhances endothelium-dependent relaxations in the basilar artery by two mechanisms: 1) replacement of endogenous arachidonic acid and suppression of the concomitant release of vasoconstrictor prostaglandins from the endothelium, and 2) enhancement of the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor.