The Effect And Mechanisms Of Astaxanthin Oil On The Occurrence And Development Of Esophageal Cancer

ObjectivesTo explore the effect and mechanisms of astaxanthin oil on the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer.MethodsEighty-four male F344 rats aged at 4-6 weeks were randomized into six groups: control group A,intervention group B,intervention group C,intervention group D,solvent group E,exposed group F.Rats in A group were subcutaneously injected with 20% Dimethyl sulfoxid(DMSO)/water.Rats in groups B through F were subcutaneously N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine(NMBzA)at the dose of 0.25mg/kg body weight,solubilized in 20% DMSO/water.Through gavage,the rats in B,C,and D group were supplied with astaxanthin dissolved in safflower oil,at the dosages of 10 mg,50 mg,and 100 mg per kg body weight respectively,three times a week for continuous 25 weeks.Rats in E group received same volume of safflower oil.Rats were sacrificed at week 25 and 35 to obtain abdominal aorta blood,and assess the development of esophageal lesions by HE staining.Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay(ELISA)was performed to detect the activity of serum total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD)and glutathione peroxidases(GSH-PX),the concentration of serum malondialdehyde(MDA),the activity of plasma catalase(CAT),the total antioxidant capacity(TAOC),and the concentration of serum transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1).SPSS 21.0 statistical software was used to analyze the experimental data,and the significant level was α=0.05.Results(1)The incidence of esophageal cancer in different groups: at week 25,the visible esophageal tumor incidences of group E,F were significantly higher than that of group A and C;and the incidences of group F were significantly higher than that of group B.At week 35,the incidences of group E,F were significantly higher than that of group A(all P<0.05).(2)The histological observation of esophageal mucosa epithelium in the rats: at both week 25 and week 35,the histological observation of esophageal mucosa epithelium in group B,D,E,and F were significantly different from that of group A,and epithelium hyperplasia of esophageal mucosa was noticed in majority rats of group B and D.Significant tumor mass was seen in majority rats of group E and F.Normal morphology of esophageal mucosa epithelium was observed in group A rats.Being significantly different from group B,D,E,and F,the rats in group C showed normal mucosa at week 25,but some had hyperplasia and tumor at week 35.And at week 35,the morphological changes of esophageal mucosa epithelium in the rats of C group was significantly different from that of F group(all P<0.05).(3)The measurement of oxidative stress: at week 25,serum GSH-PX activity was higher in group A and C than that in group F.Serum MDA level was higher in group F than that in group B.Plasma CAT activity was higher in group A and D than that in group F.Plasma TAOC level was higher in group C than that in group E and F(all P<0.05).(4)Serum level of TGF-β1: at week 25,serum level of TGF-β1 was higher in group C and F than that in group B and A.At week 35,serum TGF-β1 level was higher in group E and F than that in group A(both P<0.05).(5)The body weight and spleen weight of rats: at week 25,body weights in group A,B,and C were significantly higher than that in group D and F,spleen weight of group C was significantly higher than that in group E and F(both P<0.05).ConclusionThe appropriate dose of the astaxanthin oil intake for a period of time could inhibit the occurrence of esophageal cancer.The potential mechanisms might be increased the capacity of antioxidant and enhanced level of serum TGF-β1 through astaxanthin oil supplementation in rats.