Efects of Diet Supplemented With Omega-3 in Soleus Muscle of Rats Submitted to Swimming: Histological and Morphometric Analysis

Abstract

Muscle injuries have been observed as the most frequent in sports. Considering the production of Reactive Oxygen Species as a risk factor for installation of injuries and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics of Omega-3, the objective of this study was to evaluate the histological and morphometric changes of the soleus muscle of rats that practiced swimming, associated with a diet supplemented with Omega-3. 31 Wistar rats divided into 4 groups were used, namely groups A and C supplemented with olive oil and B and D with 3g/day of Omega-3, for 4 weeks. Groups C and D were submitted to swimming for 5 days / week during 28 days, with addition of 5% of body weight from the second week on; while groups A and B did not perform training. After this period the animals were sacrificed, the soleus muscle removed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for morphological evaluation. Bifactorial analysis of variance with significance level of 5% was used for analysis of values of smallest diameter of the muscle fibers. Groups A and B (sedentary) presented normal histological patterns. Group C showed increase of endomisial tissue and number of nuclei, presence of phagocytized fibers and not maintained polygonal contours, whereas group D showed few phagocytized fibers and polygonal contours preserved. Regarding the measurement of the smallest diameter of the muscle fibers, the analyses showed differences for the training factor, but not for the supplementation factor or interaction between them. The histological changes induced by exercise were attenuated in the group supplemented with Omega-3, suggesting hence a protective effect of supplementation; however, the diameter increase of the fibers for the groups exposed to exercise is related to the training effect and not to supplementation.