Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation does not influence liver regeneration in rats after partial hepatectomy

Abstract

Aim of the study: In the initiation of liver regeneration, multiple stimulatory and inhibitory factors participate. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on liver regeneration after 30% partial hepatectomy in rats.

Material and methods: A total of 14 male Wistar Albino rats were included in this study. The animals were randomly allocated to two groups: the control group (n = 7) and the omega-3 group (n = 7). Rats in the control group were fed a standard rat chow and rats in the omega-3 group received 10 mg/kg/day omega-3 supplementation in addition to normal rat chow in the perioperative period. Rats were investigated seven days after 1/3 partial hepatectomy by liver weight change and hepatocyte proliferation.

Results: The mean liver regeneration rate was found to be slightly higher (p = 0.061) in the omega-3 group compared the control group. In addition, no significant difference was observed regarding binuclear hepatocyte ratio in pericentral and periportal areas between the two groups. However, livers from rats given omega-3 supplementation have less inflammatory cellular infiltrate in the portal space than livers from the control group.

Conclusions: Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids showed no influence on the liver regeneration in rats undergoing 1/3 partial hepatectomy.

Keywords: liver regeneration; omega-3 fatty acids; rats.

Fig. 1

Liver regeneration rate seven days after partial hepatectomy. Values are expressed as means ± SD in log scale

Fig. 2

Histological findings of livers taken from rats in control group. A) Normal lobular architecture and hepatocyte morphology with typical hepatic lobule, radial liver cell cord, and clear hepatic sinusoid (H-E; 10×). B) Slight proliferation of the bile ducts (arrowheads) and hepatocytes containing binuclear nucleus (arrows) in the portal area (H-E; 40×). C) Inflammatory cell infiltration in the portal area (arrows) (H-E; 10×). The inset shows increased hemosiderin-laden macrophage (arrow) and lymphocyte infiltration (arrowheads) (H-E; 40×). D) Glycogen-rich hepatocytes around central veins and glycogen-poor hepatocytes and dilated sinusoidal space with inflammatory cell infiltration in the periportal area (PAS; 10×). E) Kupffer cells (arrows) and hepatocytes containing binuclear nucleus (arrowhead) (PAS-D; 100×). Vc – vena centralis, Pa – portal area, Sn – sinusoid, Hc – hepatic cell cord

Fig. 3

Histological findings of livers taken from rats in omega-3 group. A) Normal lobular architecture and hepatocyte morphology (H-E; 10×). B) Bile duct proliferation (arrows) and binuclear hepatocytes (arrowhead) in the portal area (H-E; 100×). C) Binuclear hepatocytes (arrowheads), bile ducts, infiltration of eosinophil leukocyte in connective tissue (arrows), and nuclear pleomorphism (H-E; 40×). The inset shows multinuclear hepatocytes and sinusoids (arrowheads) (H-E; 100×). D) Glycogen-rich hepatocytes in the pericentral area and glycogen-poor hepatocytes in the periportal area (PAS; 10×). E) Kupffer cells located inside the sinusoids (arrows) (PAS-D; 100×). Pa – portal area, Vc – vena centralis, Z1 – zone 1 (periportal lobule), Z2 – zone 2 (midzonal region), Z3 – zone 3 (centrilobular area), Bd – bile duct, Sn – sinusoid