Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) suppresses gastric fundus smooth muscle contractions by inhibiting the Orai1 channel

A research group led by Dr. Keisuke Obara, Dr. Kento Yoshioka, and Professor Yoshio Tanaka of the Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, found that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is abundant in fish oil, suppresses gastric fundus smooth muscle contractions induced by physiologically active substances such as bradykinin. Although DHA has previously been shown to inhibit voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels (VDCCs), the research group found a new pharmacological action of DHA to inhibit the Orai1 channel, which is one of store-operated Ca²⁺ channels (SOCCs). These findings suggest that DHA prevents and improves excessive gastric motility by inhibiting two types of Ca²⁺ entry channels. The results of this research were published in the journal Scientific Reports on May 22, 2024.