title: Brain histological changes in young mice submitted to diets with different ratios of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids during maternal pregnancy and lactation.
abstract: N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) are essential for brain development and function, but the appropriate quantity of dietary n-3 PUFAs and ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs have not been clearly determined. In this study, we investigated the effects of different dietary ratios of n-6/n-3 PUFAs on the brain structural development in mice and the expression of associated transcription factors. C57 BL/6J mice were fed with one of two categories of n-3 PUFA-containing diets (a flaxseed oil diet and a flaxseed/fish oil mixed diet) or an n-3 PUFA-deficient diet. For each of the n-3 PUFA diets, flaxseed oil or flaxseed/fish oil was combined with other oils to yield three different n-6/n-3 ratios, which ranged from 15.7:1 to 1.6:1. The feeding regimens began two months before mouse conception and continued throughout lactation for new pups. As compared with the n-3 PUFA-deficient diet, both the flaxseed oil n-3 PUFA diets and the flaxseed/fish oil n-3 PUFA diets significantly increased the expression levels of brain neuron-specific enolase, glial fibrillary acidic protein and myelin basic protein, somewhat dose-dependently, in new pup mice at 21 d and 42 d of age. The expression of PPAR-γ in the brains of pup mice was increased only at 7 d of age with the n-3 PUFA diet, and no changes in the expression of PPAR-α and PPAR-β were found among all the diet groups. These results suggest that the higher intake amount of n-3 PUFAs with a low ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs at about 1-2:1, supplied during both maternal pregnancy and lactation, may be more beneficial for early brain development, and PPAR-γ may act in one of the pathways by which n-3 PUFAs promote early brain development.
authors: Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 56 Nan-li-shi Road, Beijing 100045, China.
authors: Chunyu
authors: C
authors: Tian
authors: Chaonan
authors: C
authors: Fan
authors: Xinli
authors: X
authors: Liu
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Xu
authors: Kemin
authors: K
authors: Qi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D007774:Lactation; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005395:Fish Oils; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; C499047:Mbp protein, mouse; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D047495:PPAR gamma; D008043:Linseed Oil; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase