Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on traumatic brain injury in rats

  • Authors:
    • Wei Zhu
    • Nan Chi
    • Peng Zou
    • Hongguang Chen
    • Guotai Tang
    • Wei Zhao
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 28, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5054
  • Pages: 4411-4416
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Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats. A model of TBI was induced by lateral fluid percussion injury in adult rats and rats were randomly divided into the TBI‑model group, TBI‑low DHA group and TBI‑high DHA group, while other healthy rats were assigned to the sham‑operated group. Motor recovery was tested with beam‑walking trials at 2, 7 and 15 days post‑TBI. Cognitive recovery was tested with Morris water maze trials at 15 days post‑TBI. The expression levels of caspase‑3, B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2) and Bcl‑2‑associated X protein (Bax) were measured by western blotting. DHA protected against motor deficits induced by TBI in beam walking tests. All TBI‑model groups had longer escape latency and swimming distances than the sham groups. Compared with the TBI‑low DHA group, the TBI‑high DHA group demonstrated shorter escape latency and swimming distances. DHA inhibited the expression of caspase‑3 and the inhibition effect was more obvious at a high dosage. Furthermore, DHA dose‑dependently rescued neurons by upregulating the Bcl‑2:Bax ratio. DHA supplementation was a viable strategy to mitigate injury from TBI.
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November-2017
Volume 14 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Zhu W, Chi N, Zou P, Chen H, Tang G and Zhao W: Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on traumatic brain injury in rats. Exp Ther Med 14: 4411-4416, 2017.
APA
Zhu, W., Chi, N., Zou, P., Chen, H., Tang, G., & Zhao, W. (2017). Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on traumatic brain injury in rats. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 14, 4411-4416. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5054
MLA
Zhu, W., Chi, N., Zou, P., Chen, H., Tang, G., Zhao, W."Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on traumatic brain injury in rats". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 14.5 (2017): 4411-4416.
Chicago
Zhu, W., Chi, N., Zou, P., Chen, H., Tang, G., Zhao, W."Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on traumatic brain injury in rats". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 14, no. 5 (2017): 4411-4416. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5054