Peritoneal macrophages from mice fed dietary (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids secrete low levels of prostaglandins.

Peritoneal macrophages from mice fed diets containing 10% menhaden oil incorporated significant amounts of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) into cellular lipids, and this lowered arachidonic acid in these lipid classes compared to those from mice fed diets containing 10% coconut oil. The n-3 PUFA-enriched macrophages secreted significantly smaller amounts of prostaglandin E, thromboxane B and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha when stimulated with opsonized zymosan or phorbol myristate acetate. These studies demonstrated that menhaden oil-enriched diets influence fatty acid composition and prostaglandin synthesis in macrophages.