Synergistic effects of stress and omega-3 fatty acid deprivation on emotional response and brain lipid composition in adult rats
Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids. 2008-06-01; 78(6): 391-401
DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2008.05.003
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Mathieu G(1), Denis S, Lavialle M, Vancassel S.
Author information:
(1)Unité de Nutrition et Régulation Lipidiques des Fonctions Cérébrales,
NuRéLiCe, INRA Domaine de Vilvert, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France.
The aim was to determine the consequences of multi-generational n-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) deficiency on emotional response in rats
subjected to maternal separation (MS) as chronic early life stress. Pups fed a
control or an n-3 PUFA deficient diet were daily separated for 2 weeks before
weaning. In adult rats, reward response was assessed by sucrose consumption and
reactivity to novelty using openfield test. Both n-3 PUFA deficiency and MS
increased reward response and impulsivity. Moreover, nutritional deficiency and
stress acted in synergy to elevate sucrose intake by 80%, compared to control
conditions. n-3 PUFA deprivation induced a depletion of docosahexanoeic acid of
brain membranes by 70% compensated by increase in 22:5 n-6 and arachidonic acid
(AA) levels. The diet-induced AA increase was, however, significantly higher in
MS rats. This suggests that n-3 PUFA deficit could be an environmental risk
increasing vulnerability to depressive-like response induced by chronic stress.
DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2008.05.003
PMID: 18579362 [Indexed for MEDLINE]