Background: The proinflammatory cytokine Interleukin−1β(IL−1β), which increases in the heart post myocardial infarction (MI), has been shown to cause loss of Connexin43 (Cx43) function, an event known to underlie formation of the arrhythmogenic substrate. Omega 3 Fatty acids exhibit antiarrhythmic properties and impact IL−1β signaling. We hypothesize that Omega-3 fatty acids prevent arrhythmias in part, by inhibiting IL−1β signaling thus maintaining functional Cx43 channels. Methods: Rat neonatal myocytes or Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Epithelial (MDCK) cells grown in media in the absence (Ctr) or presence of 30μM docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, an Omega-3 Fatty acid) were treated with 0.1μM activated IL−1β. We determined Cx43 channel function using a dye spread assay. Western blot and immunostaining were used to examine Cx43 levels/localization and downstream effectors of IL−1β. In addition we used a murine model of MI for 24 h to determine the impact of an Omega-3 fatty acid enriched diet on Cx43 levels/localization post MI. Results: IL−1β significantly inhibited Cx43 function in Ctr cells (200.9±17.7μm[Ctr]vs.112.8±14.9μm[0.1μMIL−1β],p<0.05). However, DHA-treated cells remained highly coupled in the presence of IL−1β[167.9±21.9μm[DHA]vs.164.4±22.3μm[DHA+0.1muMIL−1β],p<0.05,n=4]. Additionally, western blot showed that IL−1β treatment caused a 38.5% downregulation of Cx43 [1.00au[Ctr]vs.0.615au(0.1μMIL−1β) which was completely abolished in DHA-treated cells (0.935au[DHA]vs.1.02au[DHA+0.1μMIL−1β),p<0.05,n=3]. Examination of the downstream modulator of IL−1β, NFκβ showed that while hypoxia caused translocation of NFκβ to the nucleus, this was inhibited by DHA. Additionally we found that a diet enriched in Omega-3 Fatty acids inhibited lateralization of Cx43 in the post-MI murine heart as well as limited activation of fibroblasts which would lead to decreased fibrosis overall. Conclusions: Omega 3 Fatty acid treatment inhibited IL−1β-stimulated loss of Cx43 protein, and more importantly, inhibited loss of Cx43 function by inhibiting translocation of NFκβ. In the intact heart a diet enriched in Omega 3 Fatty Acids limited loss of Cx43 at the intercalated disk in the heart following MI. These data suggest that one of cardio-protective mechanisms by which Omega 3 Fatty acids work includes prevention of the pro-arrhythmic loss of Cx43 post MI and the attenuation of cardiac fibrosis after injury