title: Effect of diet on brain metabolites and behavior in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a heterogeneous psychiatric disorder affecting 5-10% of children. One of the suggested mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of ADHD is insufficient energy supply to neurons. Here, we investigated the role of omega 3 fatty acids in altering neural energy metabolism and behavior of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), which is an animal model of ADHD. To this end, we employed Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) to evaluate changes in brain neurochemistry in the SHR following consumption of one of three experimental diets (starting PND 21): fish oil enriched (FOE), regular (RD) and animal fat enriched (AFE) diet. Behavioral tests were performed to evaluate differences in locomotor activity and risk-taking behavior (starting PND 44). Comparison of frontal lobe metabolites showed that increased amounts of omega 3 fatty acids decreased total Creatine levels (tCr), but did not change Glutamate (Glu), total N-Acetylaspartate (tNAA), Lactate (Lac), Choline (Cho) or Inositol (Ino) levels. Although behavior was not significantly affected by different diets, significant correlations were observed between brain metabolites and behavior in the open field and elevated plus maze. SHR with higher levels of brain tCr and Glu exhibited greater hyperactivity in a familiar environment. On the other hand, risk-taking exploration of the elevated plus maze's open arms correlated negatively with forebrain tNAA and Lac levels. These findings support the possible alteration in energy metabolites in ADHD, correlating with hyperactivity in the animal model. The data also suggest that omega 3 fatty acids alter brain energy and phospholipid metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Center for Comparative Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA; Office Médico-Pédagogique, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, 1 David Dufour, CP 50, 1211 Geneva 8, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ana A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Liso Navarro
authors.affiliation: Center for Comparative Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA.
authors.forename: Elif M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sikoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
authors.forename: Cailin R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Heinze
authors.affiliation: Center for Comparative Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Rogan
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiology, School of Laboratory and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa.
authors.forename: Vivienne A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Center for Comparative Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA.
authors.forename: Jean A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Center for Comparative Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA. Electronic address: Constance.Moore@umassmed.edu.
authors.forename: Constance M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003401:Creatine / Q000097:blood; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D066244:Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D012309:Risk-Taking
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005395:Fish Oils; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine
keywords: ADHD; Energy metabolism; Fatty-acid; Neuroimaging; Rat