OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of fish oil on intestinal Paneth cells in mouse with abdominal infection.

METHODSFifty C57BL/6J mouse were randomly divided into five groups (n=10 each): control group, sham group, infection group (cecal ligation and puncture, CLP), fish oil group (0.4 g/kg fish oil, intragastric administration every day, FO) and long chain triglyceride group (0.4 g/kg soybean oil, intragastric administration every day, LCT). The mouse were sacrificed and the terminal ileum was collected for lysozyme, cryptdin 4 and secreted phosphatidase A2 (sPLA2) analysis at the fourth day after operation. The changes of mouse body weight and intestinal mucosa pathology were observed.

RESULTSThe body weight, the mRNA levels of lysozyme, cryptdin 4 and sPLA2 and the protein level of lysozyme of Paneth cells in the infection group were reduced compared with the control group (0.78±0.34 vs. 1.83±0.11, 0.99±0.44 vs. 2.02±0.33, 0.92±0.25 vs. 1.50±0.27, 0.31±0.06 vs. 0.45±0.05, all P<0.05), meanwhile the intestinal villi collapse and breakage occurred obviously. Fish oil could up-regulate the mRNA and protein expression of lysozyme (1.23±0.27 vs. 0.78±0.34 and 0.62±0.23, 0.38±0.07 vs. 0.31±0.06 and 0.32±0.06, all P<0.05) and alleviate the mucosa injury compared with the infection group and LCT group.

CONCLUSIONSThe function of intestinal Paneth cells is damaged apparently after cecal ligation and puncture. Fish oil can relieve this injury.