Abstract
Background:Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6) upon fatty acid composition, oxidative and inflammatory factors and aging proteins in brain of d-galactose (DG) treated aging mice were examined.Methods:Each fatty acid at 7 mg/kg BW/week was supplied for 8 weeks. Brain aging was induced by DG treatment (100 mg/kg body weight) via daily subcutaneous injection for 8 weeks.Results:DG, EPA and DHA treatments changed brain fatty acid composition. DG down-regulated brain Bcl-2 expression and up-regulated Bax expression. Compared with DG groups, EPA and DHA further enhanced Bax expression. DG decreased glutathione content, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) production, the intake of EPA or DHA caused greater ROS and GSSG formation. DG treatments up-regulated the protein expression of p47phox and gp91phox, and the intake of EPA or DHA led to greater p47phox and gp91phox expression. DG increased brain prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and activity, the intake of EPA or DHA reduced brain COX-2 activity and PGE2 formation. DG enhanced brain p53, p16 and p21 expression. EPA and DHA intake led to greater p21 expression, and EPA only caused greater p53 and p16 expression. Conclusion: These findings suggest that these two PUFAs have toxic effects toward aging brain.
Highlights
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6) are n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and their major dietary sources are sea foods
Our present study is the first one to examine the influence of DG upon brain fatty acid composition, and we found that DG decreased brain monounsaturated fatty acid (MFA), but increased saturated fatty acid (SFA)
Our major purpose was to investigate the influence of dietary ALA, EPA or DHA upon brain in DG induced aging model, in which ALA was used for comparison
Summary
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6) are n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and their major dietary sources are sea foods. The American Heart Association suggests healthy person to consume at least two servings fish per week, which results in EPA and DHA weekly intake at 400500 mg [5]. Those previous studies support the healthy benefits of EPA and DHA, the safety and even toxic effects of these two PUFAs are paid attention. Mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, mainly mediated by BCL family proteins, is involved in neurons death and responsible for pathological development of brain aging. Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6) upon fatty acid composition, oxidative and inflammatory factors and aging proteins in brain of d-galactose (DG) treated aging mice were examined
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