title: Essential fatty acid preparation improves biochemical and cognitive functions in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis rats.
abstract: This study examined the possible effects of a novel mixture of fatty acids, SR-3 (a specific ratio of alpha-linolenic acids), on brain biochemistry and on learning deficits induced by injection of an agent that induces experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Treatment with SR-3 caused a decrease in myelin and changes in the fatty acid profile of brain synaptosomes, and a learning deficit. Eighteen days of treatment with SR-3 reversed the biochemical and learning deficit significantly, but did not restore them to normal levels. We propose that, most probably, the main action of SR-3 is the modulation of the cholesterol level, which in turn causes the modulation of the fatty acid profile and enhances learning by allowing improved neuronal communication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yehuda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rabinovitz
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Mostofsky
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huberman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sredni
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000378:metabolism; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol; D019787:Linoleic Acid