Effects of Krill-derived phospholipid-enriched n − 3 fatty acids on Ca2 + regulation system in cerebral arteries from ovariectomized rats

AimsTo investigate the effects of n − 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on cerebral circulation, ovariectomized (OVX) rats were administered with phospholipids in krill oil (KPL) or triglycerides in fish oil (FTG); effects on the Ca2 + regulating system in their basilar artery (BA) were then analyzed.Main methodsThe rats were divided into 4 groups: control, OVX, OVX given KPL (OVXP), and OVX given FTG (OVXT) orally, daily for 2 weeks. Time dependent relaxation (TDR) of contractile response to 5HT in BA was determined myographically, Na+/Ca2 + exchanger (NCX) 1 mRNA expression was determined by real time PCR, and nucleotides were analyzed by HPLC.Key findingsThe level of TDR in OVX that was significantly lower in the control was inhibited by l-NAME and indomethacin; TEA inhibited TDR totally in the control but only partly in OVXP and OVXT. Relaxation induced by the addition of 5 mM KCl to the BA pre-contracted with 5-HT was inhibited by TEA in the controls, OVXP and OVXT, but not in OVX. Overexpression of NCX1 mRNA in the BA from OVX was significantly inhibited by FTG. The ratio of ADP/ATP in cerebral arteries from OVX was significantly inhibited by KPL and FTG. Levels of triglyceride and arachidonic acid in the plasma of OVX increased, but were significantly inhibited by KPL and FTG.SignificanceOvarian dysfunction affects Ca2 + activated-, ATP-sensitive-K+ channels and NCX1, which play crucial roles in the autoregulation of cerebral blood flow. Also, KPL may become as good a supplement as FTG for postmenopausal women.