title: Consumption of a high n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid diet during gradual mild physiological stress in rats.
abstract: n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs) may be beneficial for anxiety and depression under stressful conditions. Studies however, typically utilise physical or sudden physiological stress, while gradual physiological stress is also relevant to human conditions. Using deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) administration to induce gradual physiological stress, this study investigated the impact of n-3PUFAs under gradual physiological stress in rats. Animals (aged 2 months) (N=8-12/group) received daily injections of DOCA or vehicle and were concurrently fed a high n-3PUFA or control diet for eight weeks. Behavioural measures were taken throughout. Behavioural tests and physiological measures were conducted after six and eight weeks respectively. DOCA administration decreased plasma renin, plasma proteins and relative adrenal weight, and increased water intake, relative kidney weight, and anxiety in the open field. These findings demonstrate disruptions to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, a result of mild physiological stress, that also impact on anxiety behaviours. No effects of n-3PUFAs were found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; School of Psychology, The Queen׳s University of Belfast, Belfast, UK. Electronic address: k.appleton@bournemouth.ac.uk.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Appleton
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Grippo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Beltz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D064791:Desoxycorticosterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D064791:Desoxycorticosterone Acetate; D012083:Renin
keywords: Behavioural tests; Deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA); Plasma; Stress; n3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs)