The effects of a fish-oil-enriched diet on pulmonary mechanics during anaphylaxis

Am Rev Respir Dis. 1985 Dec;132(6):1204-9. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1985.132.6.1204.

Abstract

The pulmonary mechanical responses observed after antigen challenge in 2 groups of sensitized, mepyramine-treated, mechanically ventilated guinea pigs were compared: one group was fed a diet rich in fish oil and the other a control diet enriched with beef tallow. The lung tissue of animals fed a fish-oil-enriched diet for 9 to 10 wk incorporated eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid, which constituted 8 to 9% of the total fatty acid content, whereas these alternative fatty acids constituted less than 1% of total fatty acid content of the lung tissue of animals receiving a diet supplemented with beef tallow. With mepyramine pretreatment, animals receiving a fish oil diet exhibited a significantly greater decrease in dynamic compliance from 1.5 through 4.5 min after antigen challenge than did animals receiving a beef fat diet, whereas the decrements in pulmonary conductance were comparable. The combination of indomethacin and mepyramine markedly augmented the antigen-induced decrease in pulmonary mechanics in animals receiving a beef fat diet but not in those receiving a fish oil diet, such that the overall responses of the 2 groups were similar. These findings indicate that the fish oil diet and the indomethacin pretreatment of animals receiving the beef fat diet each facilitates the nonhistamine-mediated bronchoconstrictor response in pulmonary anaphylaxis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Airway Resistance / drug effects
  • Anaphylaxis / physiopathology*
  • Animals
  • Dietary Fats / pharmacology*
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / analysis
  • Fish Oils / pharmacology*
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Indomethacin / pharmacology
  • Leukotriene B4 / pharmacology
  • Lung / analysis
  • Lung / physiopathology*
  • Lung Compliance / drug effects
  • Male
  • Oils / pharmacology
  • Plethysmography, Whole Body
  • Premedication
  • Pyrilamine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Dietary Fats
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Fish Oils
  • Oils
  • Menhaden oil
  • Leukotriene B4
  • Pyrilamine
  • Indomethacin