Alterations in brain function after loss of docosahexaenoate due to dietary restriction of n-3 fatty acids.
The concentration of the major polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in brain, docosahexaenoate, may be markedly reduced by two or more generations of dietary restriction of sources of n-3 fatty acids in the diet. Such a deficiency was induced through the feeding of safflower oil as the principal source of essential fatty acids. The reference point for this diet was an n-3 adequate diet to which alpha-linoleate and docosahexaenoate were added through the addition of a small quantity of flax seed or algael oils, respectively. The loss of brain DHA was associated with poorer performance in spatial tasks and an olfactory-cued reversal learning task. No difference could be observed in the hippocampal gross morphology. This study demonstrates the importance of providing a source of n-3 fatty acids during mammalian growth and development.
Salem
N
N
Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA. nsalem@niaaa.nih.gov
Moriguchi
T
T
Greiner
R S
RS
McBride
K
K
Ahmad
A
A
Catalan
J N
JN
Slotnick
B
B
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D012193:Reversal Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D012450:Safflower Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010938:Plant Oils; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D012450:Safflower Oil; D008043:Linseed Oil; D000074263:Coconut Oil