Omega-3 supplementation prevents functional and neural respiratory damage present in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder primarily characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to classical motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. In later stages, patients frequently develop non-classical symptoms, including respiratory dysfunctions, which may result from neurodegeneration in brainstem regions involved in respiratory control, such as the pre-Bötzinger Complex (preBötC) and the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN). These changes are likely driven by oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Given the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, this study investigated whether omega-3 supplementation could prevent respiratory-related neuroanatomical and respiratory dysfunctional alterations in a mouse model of PD induced by bilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the striatum. Omega-3 supplementation prevented respiratory dysfunction by preventing neuronal loss in the preBötC and RTN, reducing glial reactivity and oxidative stress, and maintaining respiratory frequency. These findings support the therapeutic potential of omega-3 in mitigating respiratory dysfunction in PD.