The effect of fish oil on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis induced by high fructose and high fat high cholesterol diet in mouse

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate how fish oil rich diet affected non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) induced by high fructose high fat high cholesterol diet in mouse. Methods 45 C3H mice aged 6 weeks were divided into 3 groups: normal diet group (control), lard rich diet group as model group (lard), fish oil rich diet (fish oil). Mice were sacrificed at the end of week 4, 8, 16, 5 mice at each time point. Blood and liver were collected to test biochemical parameters, liver index, liver pathology and mRNA expression of inflammation associated gene. Results total cholesterol (TC) and serum ALT, AST increased significantly comparing to control (P<0.001), fish oil intervention inhibited these increases (P<0.05). The expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) was upregulated, most dramatically at week 4, in lard group. While the mRNA level of MCP-1 is lower in fish oil group than lard group. TNF-α and TGF-β gene expression also rise at week 8, this trend diminished in fish oil group. HE staining showed apparent steatosis and inflammation infiltration at week 8 and 16 in lard group, while inflammation infiltration was weaker in fish oil group. The expression of kupffer cell marker gene CD68 elevated in lard group, fish oil diet down regulated this elevation. Conclusion Fish oil was able to protect liver from NASH related injury induced by high fructose high fat high cholesterol diet. Key words: Fish oils; Fatey liver; kupffer cells