Role of fish oil in gasoline vapor-induced lung damage inadult male albino rats

BackgroundExposure to gasoline vapor is known to produce oxidative stress and inducepulmonary diseases. Fish oil was found to play a role in the prevention of chroniclung diseases through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.Aim of the studyTo study the role of fish oil in lung changes induced by gasoline vapor inhalation inmale adult albino rats.Materials and methodsEighty adult male albino rats were divided randomly into four groups of 20 ratseach: control, gasoline-exposed, gasoline+fish oil-concomitant, and fish oil-treatedgroups. The rats of the control group were subjected to fresh air, whereas rats ofthe gasoline-exposed group were exposed to gasoline vapor for 10 weeks. Rats ofthe concomitant group received 0.5 ml/kg fish oil orally daily while being exposed togasoline vapor. Rats of the fish oil-treated group only received fish oil. Right and leftlungs were processed for light and electron microscopic examination, respectively.ResultsLung tissues of gasoline vapor-exposed rats showed collapsed alveoli, thickinteralveolar septa, inflammatory cell infiltration, intra-alveolar exudates, hemorrhage,fibrosis, and hypocellularity. Rats of the concomitant group showed a markedreduction in these pathological features.ConclusionThere is evidence that fish oil can ameliorate lung changes induced by gasoline vaporinhalation.