title: n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation enhances hippocampal functionality in aged mice.
abstract: As major components of neuronal membranes, omega-3 polyunsaturated acids (n-3 PUFA) exhibit a wide range of regulatory functions, modulating from synaptic plasticity to neuroinflammation, from oxidative stress to neuroprotection. Recent human and animal studies indicated the n-3 PUFA neuroprotective properties in aging, with a clear negative correlation between n-3 PUFA levels and hippocampal deficits. The present multidimensional study was aimed at associating cognition, hippocampal neurogenesis, volume, neurodegeneration and metabolic correlates to verify n-3 PUFA neuroprotective effects in aging. To this aim 19 month-old mice were given n-3 PUFA mixture, or olive oil or no dietary supplement for 8 weeks during which hippocampal-dependent mnesic functions were tested. At the end of behavioral testing morphological and metabolic correlates were analyzed. n-3 PUFA supplemented aged mice exhibited better object recognition memory, spatial and localizatory memory, and aversive response retention, without modifications in anxiety levels in comparison to controls. These improved hippocampal cognitive functions occurred in the context of an enhanced cellular plasticity and a reduced neurodegeneration. In fact, n-3 PUFA supplementation increased hippocampal neurogenesis and dendritic arborization of newborn neurons, volume, neuronal density and microglial cell number, while it decreased apoptosis, astrocytosis and lipofuscin accumulation in the hippocampus. The increased levels of some metabolic correlates (blood Acetyl-L-Carnitine and brain n-3 PUFA concentrations) found in n-3 PUFA supplemented mice also pointed toward an effective neuroprotection. On the basis of the present results n-3 PUFA supplementation appears to be a useful tool in health promotion and cognitive decline prevention during aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University Sapienza of Rome Rome, Italy ; Lab of Experimental and Behavioral Neurophysiology, Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cutuli
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University Sapienza of Rome Rome, Italy ; Lab of Experimental and Behavioral Neurophysiology, Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Bartolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University Sapienza of Rome Rome, Italy ; Lab of Experimental and Behavioral Neurophysiology, Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caporali
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University Sapienza of Rome Rome, Italy ; Lab of Experimental and Behavioral Neurophysiology, Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laricchiuta
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University Sapienza of Rome Rome, Italy ; Lab of Experimental and Behavioral Neurophysiology, Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Foti
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti, Pescara, Italy ; Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, Mawson Institute, University of South Australia Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ronci
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti, Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Lab of Proteomic and metabonomic, Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy ; Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University Tor Vergata of Rome Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.affiliation: Lab of Clinical and Behavioral Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spalletta
authors.affiliation: Lab of Clinical and Behavioral Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy ; Department of Neuroscience, University Tor Vergata of Rome Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caltagirone
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council, Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farioli-Vecchioli
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University Sapienza of Rome Rome, Italy ; Lab of Experimental and Behavioral Neurophysiology, Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petrosini
keywords: aging; cognitive decline; hippocampus; neuroprotection; omega-3 fatty acids