title: Effects of ω-3 fatty acids on stereotypical behavior and social interactions in Wistar rats prenatally exposed to lipopolysaccarides.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Supplementation with ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can positively contribute to neurologic development, modulating inflammatory responses, promoting homeostasis, and having a positive effect on animal behaviors associated with mental disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate behavioral and biochemical effects of ω-3 fatty acid supplementation in an animal model for mental disorders by prenatal maternal exposure to lipopolysaccardies (LPS) from the maternal immune activation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve pregnant Wistar rats were used. Each rat received 100 μg/kg of LPS or saline solution on gestational day (GD) 9.5. The offspring remained with mothers until weaning and from postnatal day (PND) 30 were supplemented with ω-3 PUFA or saline solution by gavage at a dose of 0.8 g/kg orally for 21 d. On PND 52, the animals underwent behavioral tests; then, they were sacrificed, and the brain structures were dissected and analyzed by levels: neuron-specific enolase (NSE), brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prenatal exposure to LPS significantly increased the episodes of stereotyped movements and decreased social interaction in the offspring (P = 0.009 and P = 0.001, respectively), after ω-3 PUFA supplementation these parameters reversed (P = 0.005 and P = 0.013, respectively). Significant changes also were identified in the biochemical analysis in NSE and TGF-β in the brain structures; these conditions were reversed after ω-3 PUFA supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation with ω-3 PUFA reversed animal behaviors that often are observed in autism and other mental disorders in rats prenatally exposed to LPS, and also exerted neuroprotective effects in marker levels of neuronal damage and expression of TGF-β.
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Laboratory of Inflammatory and Metabolic Processes (NeuroIMet), Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Clinical Research Center, Nossa Senhora da Conceição Hospital and the University of Southern Santa Catarina, Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Electronic address: Jucelia.fortunato@unisul.br.
authors.forename: Jucélia Jeremias
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fortunato
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Laboratory of Inflammatory and Metabolic Processes (NeuroIMet), Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Naiana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: da Rosa
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Laboratory of Inflammatory and Metabolic Processes (NeuroIMet), Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Olívia
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Martins Laurentino
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Laboratory of Inflammatory and Metabolic Processes (NeuroIMet), Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goulart
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Laboratory of Inflammatory and Metabolic Processes (NeuroIMet), Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Michalak
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Laboratory of Inflammatory and Metabolic Processes (NeuroIMet), Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lidiane Pinto
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Laboratory of Inflammatory and Metabolic Processes (NeuroIMet), Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Evandro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: da Cruz Cittadin Soares
authors.affiliation: Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/IOC/FIOCRUZ-Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia Alves
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/IOC/FIOCRUZ-Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hugo Caire
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: de Castro Faria Neto
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Laboratory of Inflammatory and Metabolic Processes (NeuroIMet), Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabrícia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petronilho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
keywords: Lipopolysaccharides; Maternal immune activation; Neuron-specific enolase; Transforming growth factor-β; ω-3