We aimed to find out whether docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) could offer protection against ischemic stroke in diabetic mice and better understand how it works. In our study, we administered DHA to diabetic mice after they experienced an ischemic stroke and evaluated their recovery over 24 hours and again at three days.
The results were promising; DHA treatment significantly reduced the overall size of brain damage, minimized swelling, and improved neurological function. We observed a notable drop in harmful inflammatory responses. For instance, the number of neutrophils, a type of immune cell that can exacerbate inflammation, decreased in the brain tissue.
Additionally, we noticed that DHA seemed to help the balance between proteins related to cell death. Specifically, it lowered levels of Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein, and increased levels of Bcl-2, which protects cells from death. Our analysis of brain tissue genes indicated that DHA helped regulate inflammatory pathways while boosting beneficial neuroprotective pathways.
The changes weren't limited to the brain either; similar positive shifts occurred in the blood cells, showcasing a systemic benefit. Overall, DHA appears to reduce the damage from stroke by lessening inflammation and cell death in diabetic mice, highlighting its potential as a treatment option for strokes in diabetic individuals.