Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
5796985 Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 2011 6 Pages PDF
Abstract

The modulatory activity of dietary n-3 fatty acids on inflammation and immune response in domestic cats is unknown. Mature female cats (n = 14/treatment) were fed control, fish oil or flaxseed oil diets with n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratios of 20:1, 5:1 and 5:1, respectively, for 12 wk. Immune response was assessed on wk 0, 6 and 12, and skin hypersensitivity response on wk 6 and 12. Fish oil increased (P < 0.01) eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in plasma and skin, whereas flaxseed oil increased α-linolenic acid. Fish and flaxseed oils decreased (P < 0.01) skin inflammatory response to histamine. Cats fed fish but not flaxseed oil had higher (P < 0.05) skin leukotriene LTB5, but not LTB4. Fish and flaxseed oils lowered B, total T and Th subset populations, and leukocyte proliferative response to PWM (P < 0.05). In contrast, there was no change in ConA- or PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation, Tc and MHC II cell populations, DTH response, NK cytotoxicity, IL-2 production, or plasma IgG concentrations. Therefore, fish and flaxseed oil can reduce skin inflammatory responses in cats, however, flaxseed oil appears less immunosuppressive than fish oil.

Related Topics
Life Sciences Agricultural and Biological Sciences Animal Science and Zoology
Authors
, , , , ,