title: Giving uridine and/or docosahexaenoic acid orally to rat dams during gestation and nursing increases synaptic elements in brains of weanling pups.
abstract: Developing neurons synthesize substantial quantities of membrane phospholipids in producing new synapses. We investigated the effects of maternal uridine (as uridine-5'-monophosphate) and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on pups' brain phospholipids, synaptic proteins and dendritic spine densities. Dams consumed neither, 1 or both compounds for 10 days before parturition and 20 days while nursing. By day 21, brains of weanlings receiving both exhibited significant increases in membrane phosphatides, various pre- and postsynaptic proteins (synapsin-1, mGluR1, PSD-95), and in hippocampal dendritic spine densities. Administering these phosphatide precursors to lactating mothers or infants could be useful for treating developmental disorders characterized by deficient synapses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cansev
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marzloff
authors.forename: Toshimasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Ismail H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Ulus
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wurtman
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D010743:Phospholipids; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects*; D014529:Uridine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D010743:Phospholipids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D014529:Uridine