Effect of ω-3 Fatty Acid on Gastrointestinal Motility after Abdominal Operation in Rats

Objective . To investigate whether ω -3 fatty acid could stimulate gastrointestinal motility after abdominal operation. Method . Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 group (normal saline group, intralipid group, and ω -3 fatty acid group, n = 18/group) after partial caecectomy and gastrostomosis, each group was divided into 3 groups (POD1, POD3, and POD6, n = 6/group). Serum gastrin (GAS), motilin (MTL), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tissue necrosis factor- α (TNF- α ), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), gastric emptying rate, and small bowel propulsion rate were measured. Results . On POD 3, gastric emptying rate and small bowel propulsion rate in ω -3 fatty acid group were higher than those in normal saline group and intralipid group. Serum GAS and MTL levels in ω -3 fatty acid group were higher than those in normal saline group, but serum IL-1, IL-6, TNF- α , and COX-2 levels were lower than those in normal saline group and intralipid group. Conclusion . ω -3 fatty acid could accelerate the recovery of gastrointestinal mobility after abdominal operation in rats, mainly by relieving postoperative inflammation.