Evaluation of the effect of n-3 PUFA-rich dietary fish oils on lipid profile and membrane fluidity in alloxan-induced diabetic mice (Mus musculus)

Marine fishes are important to health due to their high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids particularly those of the omega-3 family. These fatty acids play an important role in various physiological processes and as a consequence they may modulate and even prevent some human diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the effect of fish oils of different origins (Sardinella longiceps, Rastrelliger kanagurta and Clarias batrachus) on lipid metabolism and membrane fluidity in diabetes. Alloxan was injected in repetitive doses for 1 month (100 mg/kg body weight every 5th day) to induce diabetes in Swiss albino mice. 10 % S. longiceps, R. kanagurta or C. batrachus fish oil was freshly blended with pellet feed which was provided to diabetic mice for 1 month. The serum lipid profile (serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, VLDL and LDL) along with liver, kidney and heart tissue lipid profile (i.e. triglyceride, total cholesterol, glycolipid and phospholipid) was analysed. Besides, the enzymatic activity of HMG-CoA reductase, HMG-CoA synthase and glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase along with the membrane fluidity of these tissues was evaluated. Altered tissue lipid composition, enzyme activities and membrane fluidity due to diabetes were returned towards normal with the supplementation of 10 % fish oils. Fish oil from S. longiceps brought maximum changes in level of neutral lipid composition in heart, and increased the concentration of phospholipid and decreased the activity of HMG-CoA reductase in comparison with the fish oil from R. kanagurta and C. batrachus.