The fatty acid composition of maternal diet affects lung prostaglandin E-2 levels and survival from group B streptococcal sepsis in neonatal rat pups

Dietary fatty acid effects upon the immune system may be mediated in part by effects upon the synthesis of proinflammatory mediators. The effects of maternal dietary fatty acid composition upon lung prostaglandin (PG) E-2 levels and survival from group B streptococcal (GBS) infection were investigated in neonatal rat pups. Beginning on d 2 of gestation and throughout lactation, pregnant dams were fed a purified diet whose fat source (22% of energy) was either corn oil or menhaden fish oil. On postnatal d 3, pups were randomly cross-fostered to dams of the same diet group to minimize litter effects; litters were then culled to 10 pups per dam. On postnatal d 7, pups were either injected with 1 x 10(7.5) GBS organisms or were killed for determination of lung tissue levels of PGE(2) and lung and erythrocyte fatty acid composition, Arachidonic acid and PGE(2) levels were significantly higher in the lungs of pups in the corn oil group compared with the fish oil group. Forty-nine percent of pups in the corn oil group survived the GBS challenge compared with 79% of pups in the fish oil group (P = 0.0005). These data suggest that the fatty acid composition of pre- and/or postnatal diet affects the neonatal response to immune challenge, which may be due in part to effects upon the synthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators.