Omega-3 fatty acids reduce hepatic steatosis and consequently attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury following partial hepatectomy in rats

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) treatment of experimental steatosis and the consequent effect on ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Background: Fatty livers are more susceptible to IR injury and display decreased regenerative capacity. Consequently, restrictions exist for patients with fatty livers to undergo a major hepatectomy or to participate in living donor liver transplantation. Until recently, weight reduction constituted the only proven therapy for patients with fatty livers. Methods: Steatosis was induced by a 3-wk methionine/choline-deficient diet, followed by oral administration of omega-3 FAs (Omega-3), standard lipid solution (Lipid), or NaCl (Saline) during 2 wk. Control animals received a standard diet without treatment. Rats underwent partial (70%) hepatic IR combined with partial hepatectomy (PHx) of the non-ischemic lobes (30%) followed by 24-h reperfusion. Results: Histological analysis revealed mild (5-33%) macrovesicular steatosis in omega-3-treated animals vs. severe (>66%) macrovesicular steatosis in both Lipid and Saline groups. Following IR/PHx, omega-3-treated rats exhibited reduced serum ALT levels after 6- and 24-h reperfusion, a reduced hepatic TNF-alpha content, and an improved anti-oxidative capacity. Conclusions: Omega-3 treatment significantly reduces experimental hepatic steatosis and associated pathophysiological features, resulting in significantly reduced IR injury following PHx. (C) 2011 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.