Specific phospholipid fatty acid composition of brain regions in mice. Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency and phospholipid supplementation.
This study examined the effects of dietary alpha-linolenic acid deficiency followed or not by supplementation with phospholipids rich in n;-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) on the fatty acid composition of total phospholipids in 11 brain regions. Three weeks before mating, mice were fed a semisynthetic diet containing both linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid or deficient in alpha-linolenic acid. Pups were fed the same diet as their dams. At the age of 7 weeks, a part of the deficient group were supplemented with n;-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from either egg yolk or pig brain phospholipids for 2 months. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid levels varied among brain regions and were not significantly affected by the diet. In control mice, the level of 22:6 n-3 was significantly higher in the frontal cortex compared to all regions. alpha-Linolenic acid deficiency decreased the level of 22:6 n-3 and was compensated by an increase in 22:5 n-6 in all regions. However, the brain regions were affected differently. After the pituitary gland, the frontal cortex, and the striatum were the most markedly affected with 40% reduction of 22:6 n-3. Supplementation with egg yolk or cerebral phospholipids in deficient mice restored a normal fatty acid composition in brain regions except for the frontal cortex. There was a regional distribution of the fatty acids in the brain and the impact of deficiency in alpha-linolenic acid was region-specific. Dietary egg yolk or cerebral phospholipids are an effective source of n-3 PUFA for the recovery of altered fatty acid composition induced by a diet deficient in n-3 PUFA.
Carrié
I
I
INSERM U26, Unite de Neuro-Pharmaco-Nutrition, 75010 Paris, France.
Clément
M
M
de Javel
D
D
Francès
H
H
Bourre
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*
D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D010743:Phospholipids