title: The influence of n-3 fatty acids on maternal behavior and brain monoamines in the perinatal period.
abstract: The aim of this study was to use n-3 fatty acid-deficient pregnant mice to assess maternal behavior in the perinatal period. Female mice were fed either an n-3 fatty acid-deficient (n-3 Def) or -adequate (n-3 Adq) diet for two generations. The nest score and volume of the n-3 Def dams were lower than those of the n-3 Adq dams. In the observation of the post-delivery conditions, 40% of the n-3 Def dams attacked their newborns or did not nurse them. The brain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels of the n-3 Def dams were lower than those of the n-3 Adq dams. In the hippocampus, moreover, positive correlations were observed between the DHA and the 5-HT or 5-HIAA, and a negative correlation was observed between the DHA and the DA. These results suggest that dietary n-3 fatty acids may normalize the development of maternal behavior and prevent postpartum depression.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Functional Analysis of Marine Materials, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harauma
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food and Nutritional Science, Department of Food and Life Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sagisaka
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food and Nutritional Science, Department of Food and Life Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horii
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food and Nutritional Science, Department of Food and Life Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshitake
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Functional Analysis of Marine Materials, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan; Laboratory of Food and Nutritional Science, Department of Food and Life Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan. Electronic address: moriguchi@azabu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moriguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009425:Nesting Behavior; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids
keywords: Maternal behavior; Monoamine; Nest building; Nursing; Perinatal period; n-3 fatty acid