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Participation of Corticosteroids and Effects of Indomethacin on the Acute Inflammatory Response of Rats Fed n-6 or n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Rich Diets

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Abstract

We have previously shown that both n-3 (fish oil) and n-6 (soybean oil) PUFA-rich diets reduce carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. The present study evaluated the role of corticosteroids, and the effect of indomethacin on this response. Basal (pre-carrageenan) levels of corticosterone were elevated in both lipid diets compared to the chow diet. During inflammation, corticosterone levels increased to a similar extent in the chow and lipid diets. With 2.0 mg/kg indomethacin, edema was reduced in the chow diet and the n-3 diet, while it was not changed in the n-6 diet. In contrast, the 16.6 mg/kg dose of indomethacin induced a mild increase in edema in the chow diet but a pronounced edema increase in the lipid diets. The increase in corticosterone levels induced by carrageenan was either reduced (chow) or completely abolished (lipids) by the treatment with the higher dose of indomethacin, compared to both the control (untreated) group, and the lower dose of indomethacin. These data indicate that both acute inflammation and the response to an antiinflammatory drug were attenuated by n-3 or n-6 PUFA-rich diets. They also showed that indomethacin can have anti- or proinflammatory properties reflecting the extent of the corticosterone inhibition by indomethacin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physiology Department, Division of Neurophysiology and Endocrine Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil

    Marta Wohlers, Claudia M. O. Nascimento, Roberta A. N. Xavier, Eliane B. Ribeiro & Vera L. F. Silveira

  2. Departamento de Fisiologia, Disciplina de Neurofisiologia e Fisiologia Endócrina, The Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Rua Botucatú 862 2° andar, Vila Clementino, CEP 04023-060, Brazil

    Vera L. F. Silveira

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  1. Marta Wohlers
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Correspondence to Vera L. F. Silveira.

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Wohlers, M., Nascimento, C.M.O., Xavier, R.A.N. et al. Participation of Corticosteroids and Effects of Indomethacin on the Acute Inflammatory Response of Rats Fed n-6 or n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Rich Diets. Inflammation 27, 1–7 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022683626905

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