Dietary intake of whale oil containing ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids attenuates choroidal neovascularization in mice

Abstract

Abstract Dietary ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We here examined the effects of whale oil, which contains ω-3 LCPUFAs, in a mouse model of AMD. Mice were fed either a diet supplemented with whale oil or a control diet free of ω-3 LCPUFAs beginning 2 weeks before induction of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) by laser photocoagulation. The area of CNV measured in choroidal flat-mount preparations at 7 days after laser photocoagulation was significantly smaller in mice fed whale oil compared with control mice. The plasma concentrations of ω-3 LCPUFAs were higher, whereas those of ω-6 LCPUFAs were lower, in mice fed the diet containing whale oil than in those fed the control diet. The concentrations of various inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the retina or choroid at 3 or 7 days after CNV induction differed between the two groups of mice. Furthermore, the concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was decreased in the retina but increased in the choroid at 7 or 3 days after photocoagulation, respectively. Our results thus show that dietary intake of whale oil containing ω-3 LCPUFAs attenuated CNV in association with changes in inflammatory mediator levels and VEGF expression in the retina and choroid of mice, and that it therefore warrants further study as a means to protect against AMD in humans.