Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on traumatic brain injury in rats

Abstract

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.

Wnt Pathway: An Emerging Player in Vascular and Traumatic Mediated Brain Injuries

“…Moreover, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which has been shown to inhibit JNK, rescued TBI-mediated hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and improved hippocampus-dependent learning and memory as well as enhanced motor function ( Zhu W. et al, 2019 ). These results are in line with previous studies demonstrating that neuronal dysfunction was alleviated by DHA ( Zhu et al, 2017 , 2018 ). A natural supplementation of blueberry for 2 weeks showed mitigated loss of spatial learning and memory performances and improved anxiety ( Krishna et al, 2019 ), associated to increased expression of BDNF, which plays crucial role in neural maturation, and activated CAMKII ( Krishna et al, 2019 ).…”

Docosahexaenoic Acid Protects Traumatic Brain Injury by Regulating NOX2 Generation via Nrf2 Signaling Pathway

“…Chen Xiaobo et al [ 11 ] found that DHA played a protective role in cerebral microvascular endothelial cells and astrocytes in rats with oxysugar/sugar deficiency. In the TBI rat models, Zhu W et al [ 12 ] pointed out that DHA prevented neuron death and alleviated TBI injury through regulating apoptosis-related proteins. Moreover, DHA has been verified to provide neuroprotection for the TBI rats by activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway [ 13 ].…”

Nutritional interventions to improve neurophysiological impairments following traumatic brain injury: A systematic review

“…Application of inclusion and exclusion criteria to titles and abstracts of search resulted in 201 full‐text articles that were screened for eligibility; 43 journal articles (Bailes & Mills, 2010; Cheng et al., 2016; Cole et al., 2010; Davis et al., 2008; Deng‐Bryant et al., 2011; Elliott et al., 2018; Gerbatin et al., 2019; Greco et al., 2016; Hu, Wang, Jin, et al., 2009; Hu, Wang, Qiao, et al., 2009; Itoh et al., 2013; Ji et al., 2017; Jiang et al., 2017; Krishna et al., 2019; Kumar et al., 2014; Lim et al., 2013; Liu et al., 2017; Mills et al., 2011; Ozbal et al., 2015; Özevren et al., 2018; Prins et al., 2005; Prins & Hovda, 2009; Rubovitch et al., 2019; Saraiva et al., 2012; Schober et al., 2016; Schwartzkroin et al., 2010; Sharma et al., 2010; Shin & Dixon, 2011; Su et al., 2016; Thau‐Zuchman et al., 2019; Toklu et al., 2009; Wang et al., 2018; Wang, Li, et al., 2016; Wang, Zhang, et al, 2016; Wei et al., 2015; Wu et al., 2011, 2014; Xie et al., 2018; Xing et al., 2016; Xu et al., 2017; Zhang et al, 2018; Zhao et al., 2014; Zhu et al., 2017) met all eligibility criteria. Most studies (28/43) were conducted since 2013, with four to seven new studies being released each year since 2016.…”

“… natural compounds with known anti‐oxidant properties (Cheng et al., 2016; Itoh et al., 2013; Ji et al., 2017; Jiang et al., 2017; Krishna et al., 2019; Ozbal et al., 2015; Toklu et al., 2009; Wei et al., 2015); branched chain amino acids (BCAA) (Cole et al., 2010; Elliott et al., 2018; Lim et al., 2013); creatine (Gerbatin et al., 2019; Saraiva et al., 2012); fasting and caloric restriction (Davis et al., 2008; Liu et al., 2017; Rubovitch et al., 2019); KD (Deng‐Bryant et al., 2011; Greco et al., 2016; Hu, Wang, Jin, et al., 2009; Hu, Wang, Qiao, et al., 2009; Prins et al., 2005; Prins & Hovda, 2009; Schwartzkroin et al., 2010; Zhang et al., 2018); multi‐supplements (Thau‐Zuchman et al., 2019; Wu et al., 2014); ω‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (Bailes & Mills, 2010; Mills et al., 2011; Schober et al., 2016; Shin & Dixon, 2011; Su et al., 2016; Wu et al., 2011; Zhu et al., 2017); or natural compounds used in traditional eastern medicine (Kumar et al., 2014; Özevren et al., 2018; Sharma et al., 2010; Wang et al., 2018; Wang, Fan, et al, 2016; Wang, Zhang, et al, 2016; Xie et al., 2018; Xing et al., 2016; Zhao et al., 2014). …”

“…KD (Deng-Bryant et al, 2011;Greco et al, 2016;Hu, Wang, Jin, et al, 2009;Hu, Wang, Qiao, et al, 2009;Prins et al, 2005;Prins & Hovda, 2009;Schwartzkroin et al, 2010;Zhang et al, 2018);6. multi-supplements (Thau-Zuchman et al, 2019;Wu et al, 2014); 7. ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (Bailes & Mills, 2010;Mills et al, 2011;Schober et al, 2016;Shin & Dixon, 2011;Su et al, 2016;Wu et al, 2011;Zhu et al, 2017); or 8. natural compounds used in traditional eastern medicine (Kumar et al, 2014;Özevren et al, 2018;Sharma et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2018;Xie et al, 2018;Xing et al, 2016;Zhao et al, 2014). for each study is available in Table S1.…”