Pharmacological characteristics of the inhibitory effects of docosahexaenoic acid on vascular contractions studied in rat mesenteric artery.

Background/aims: Effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on blood vessel contractions to various constrictors were investigated in rat mesenteric artery and compared with those of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and linoleic acid (LA).

Methods: Tension changes in mesenteric ring segments were isometrically recorded.

Results: On sustained contractions induced by a thromboxane A₂ mimetic (U46619), DHA exerted a strong inhibitory effect. This inhibitory effect of DHA on U46619 appeared both in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded preparations. Although the inhibitory effect of DHA on prostaglandin F₂α (PGF₂α)-induced contractions was also significant, contractions to phenylephrine (PE) and high-KCI were not affected by DHA. As well as DHA, EPA strongly diminished U46619- and PGF₂α-induced contractions without showing a substantial inhibition of PE- and high-KCl-induced contractions. By contrast, LA did not show any significant inhibitory effects on any contractions. The DHA-induced inhibitory actions exerted on U46619 and PGF₂α also emerged if ring preparations were pretreated with this ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA).

Conclusion: DHA and EPA are found to more pronouncedly inhibit prostanoid receptor-mediated contractions than other constrictor responses of the mesenteric artery via endothelium-independent mechanisms. These inhibitory effects of ω-3 PUFAs on prostanoid receptor-mediated contractions may partly underlie the mechanisms by which these ω-3 PUFAs elicit protective actions against circulatory disorders.