Neuroprotective Activity of Docosahexaenoic Acid in the Central and Peripheral Nervous System after Chronic Constriction Injury of the Sciatic Nerve

—The analgesic and neuroprotective activity of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) was studied in a model of rat chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. We characterized the morphological and chemical state of the distal sciatic nerve segment and the activity of GFAP-positive astroglia and SP-ergic nerve fibers on the 7th and 28th day after the operation. It was found that DHA improves the morphological state of the sciatic nerve, prevents the degradation of the myelin basic protein and stabilizes the activity level of astroglia and SP-positive nerve fibers in the surface plates of the posterior horns of the spinal cord. In general, DHA has a complex effect on the course of the post-traumatic process in the central and peripheral nervous system, which indicates its high therapeutic potential.