CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF FISH OIL ON ISOPROTERENOL-INDUCED MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN RATS

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Epidemiological studies indicate a low incidence of cardiac diseases in populations that consume large amounts of seafood. This effect is attributed to the presence of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil. In this study, the protective effect of fish oil against isoproterenol induced changes in histopathology; hematology and lysosomal membrane integrity were evaluated in male wistar rats. The rats were fed fish oil for 45 days prior to isoproterenol treatment. The animals were sacrificed by cervical decapitation method 12 h after the second injection of isoproterenol hydrochloride. The results suggest that pretreatment with fish oil prevented isoproterenol-induced hematological changes. Lysosomal membrane integrity was also protected in fish oil pretreated rats, as indicated by significantly lowered activities of lysosomal hydrolases in serum and concomitant increase in their activity in the lysosomal fraction of heart. The histopathology studies further confirmed the cardioprotective effect of fish oil.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Fish oil consumption offers cardioprotection by its ability to modulate biological membranes. This study demonstrates the ability of fish oil to modulate hematological parameters and maintain lysosomal membrane integrity, thereby offering multifaceted protection to the heart. Hence, fish oils, especially those of marine origin, have excellent potential as cardioprotective agents.