Fish Oil Supplementation Ameliorated Brain Lesions Induced by Diabetes and Hypercholesterolemia in Male Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

Diabetes and hypercholesterolemia are dyslipidemic diseases and have certain role in brain dysfunction, but little of works are concerning with it. In the present study we used eighty male Wistar rats weighing approximately 100 ±15 gram. The animals were arranged into 8 groups; Control (C), fish oil-treatment, hypercholesterolemic group (H), hypercholesterolemic & fish oil-treatment (HF), diabetic- group (D), diabetic and fish oil-treatment (DF), combined hypercholesterolemic and diabetic group (HD) and combined hypercholesterolemic and diabetic group and fish-oil-treatment (HDF). Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (40mg/kg single dose in citrate buffer pH4.6). Hypercholesterolemia was carried out by feeding rats on diet containin3% cholesterol. Fish oil (Menhaden, Sigma- aldrich, highest purity) was supplemented orally every other day at 100mg/kg body weight. Treatment was carried out for 16 weeks. At the end of treatment, brain tissues were subjected for histological investigation and biochemical assessments of dopamine, serotonin, vascular endothelial growth factor, 8-deoxyhydroxy-guanosine, adhesion molecules and phospholipids beside histological investigation of cerebral hemisphere and cerebellum. The present finding revealed marked depletion of the assayed neurotransmitters and phospholipids and increased of vascular endothelial growth factor, adhesion molecules and 8-deoxy hydroxy-guanosine. Histological observations of cerebral hemisphere revealed widespread of hemorrhagic spots in hypercholesterolemia, neovascualarization in combined diabetes and hypercholesterolemia and dense lymphocytic infiltration in diabetic group. All the experimental groups possessed edematous lesions in the inner plexiform layer. Cerebellar cortex exhibited massive degeneration of Purkinje cells and granular cell layer in diabetic and or hypercholesterolemia. Fish oil supplementation improved the brain function and histological picture. The authors concluded that fish oil contain short and long chain omega-3 fatty acids fatty acid which support the brain function and scavenge the free radicals damaging brain cells.