Electrophysiological and histomorphological effects of oral omega-3 fatty acid-rich fish oil in a rat sciatic nerve transection and repair model

ABSTRACT Electrophysiological and Histomorphological Effects of Oral Omega-3 Fatty Acid-Rich Fish Oil In a Rat Sciatic Nerve Transection and Repair Model Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral omega-3 fatty acids in a rat model of sciatic nerve transection and repair. Materials and Methods: In our study, the right sciatic nerves of 64 rats were transected and repaired. The unoperated left sciatic nerves served as the sham group. Rats with operated right sciatic nerves were divided into four groups: control-4 weeks, control-8 weeks, experimental-4 weeks, and experimental-8 weeks. These groups were further categorized into two subgroups for histomorphological, clinical, and electrophysiological evaluations. Rats in the experimental groups received oral omega-3 fatty acids at a dosage of 150 mg/kg daily by gavage for a period of 4 weeks and 8 weeks. At the 4th and 8th weeks, after performing thermal and mechanical plantar tests, the rats were sacrificed for histomorphological and electrophysiological analyses. Results: Histomorphological analysis revealed that, compared to the control groups, the experimental groups exhibited significantly improved structural organization and myelin regeneration in the nerve tissue, closely resembling the sham group. Electrophysiological evaluations, including latency period, action potential, and results of thermal and mechanical plantar tests, demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the experimental groups compared to controls (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Based on these findings, oral administration of omega-3 fatty acids appears to be effective in enhancing nerve regeneration in peripheral nerve injuries, as evidenced by both histomorphological and electrophysiological outcomes. Keywords: Omega-3 fatty acid, nerve regeneration, fish oil