RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of polyunsaturated fatty acid-type omega 3 (ω3) on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of ovariectomized rats (OVX) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). DESIGN: Rheumatoid arthritis was induced using complete Freund's adjuvant and type II bovine collagen injected at the base of the tail. Twenty-four adult female rats were treated by gavage and divided into four groups: G1: Sham, treated with 0.9% NaCl; G2: OVX, treated with 0.9% NaCl; G3: OVX+RA treated with 0.9% NaCl; G4: OVX+RA+ω3 treated with omega 3 (300 mg/kg/day). The induction of rheumatoid arthritis in groups G3 and G4 was performed 21 days after OVX, treatments were started 15 days after the induction of rheumatoid arthritis, maintained for 7 days, and killed. Bilateral TMJs were removed and assigned to morphometric analysis by micro-computed tomography and immunoassay to assess levels of cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10. RESULTS: Higher levels of inflammatory cytokines were found in the G2 and G3 (P < 0.05) and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the G1 and G4. TMJ analysis by micro-computed tomography showed a higher percentage of bone volume (median - interquartile deviation) in G1 (96.2-1.1) than in the G2 (91.5-2.0, P = 0.0374) and G3 (85.1-5.2, P = 0.0001) but showed no statistically significant differences with the G4 (93.1-1.7, P = 0.79). CONCLUSIONS: Omega 3 successfully reduced TMJ damage in rats caused by ovariectomy and induced rheumatoid arthritis, and is a promising alternative for bone repair and attenuation of inflammatory processes.