Influence of dietary fish oil on the aortic, myocardial, and renal lesions of SHR.

To examine the effects of menhaden oil on the progressive glomerulosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and myocardial damage, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were fed Purina rat chow supplemented either with 6 g % of menhaden oil or with 6 g % of corn oil. They were sacrificed on the 12th and 18th months, and the kidneys, aorta, and heart were examined by light microscopy. At sacrifice, body weight, plasma creatinine, systolic blood pressure, 24 h' urinary protein output, total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and glomerulosclerosis index were measured. There was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the average body weight, plasma creatinine level, systolic blood pressure, total 24 h urinary protein output, and glomerular filtration rate. Rats with menhaden oil had, however, statistically significant less aortic arteriosclerosis, myocardial damage, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and renal interstitial fibrosis than those with corn oil. The glomerular damage of the former as expressed by glomerulosclerosis index was numerically less than that of the latter. The data indicated that menhaden oil lessened the hypertensive damage to the renal and cardiovascular systems.