Alterations in mitochondrial membrane in chemopreventive action of fish oil.

Mitochondria are major regulators of pathways related to tumorigenesis; therefore, mitochondrial membrane characteristics and associated cell signaling events were evaluated with different ratios of fish oil (FO) and corn oil (CO) in experimental colon carcinogenesis. Treatment with carcinogen 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) altered reactive oxygen species (ROS), Ca(2+), and membrane characteristics, which resulted in an elevation in apoptosis in initiation phase and reduction in post-initiation phase. FO+CO(2.5:1)+DMH treatment, however, altered mitochondrial membrane parameters, ROS, and Ca(2+) to increase apoptosis in both phases, whereas FO+CO(1:1)+DMH treatment enhanced apoptosis only in post-initiation phase suggesting that FO supplementation in higher ratio has better chemopreventive efficacy.