Cerebral Asymmetry and Behavioral Lateralization in Rats Chronically Lacking n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
Biological Psychiatry. 2005-11-01; 58(10): 805-811
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.04.045
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Vancassel S(1), Aïd S, Pifferi F, Morice E, Nosten-Bertrand M, Chalon S,Lavialle M.
Author information:
(1)INRA Laboratoire de Nutrition et Sécurité Alimentaire, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
BACKGROUND: Anatomic and functional brain lateralization underlies hemisphere
specialization for cognitive and motor control, and deviations from the normal
patterns of asymmetry appear to be related to behavioral deficits. Studies on
n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) deficiency and behavioral impairments led
us to postulate that a chronic lack of n-3 PUFA can lead to changes in
lateralized behavior by affecting structural or neurochemical patterns of
asymmetry in motor-related brain structures.
METHODS: We compared the effects of a chronic n-3 PUFA deficient diet with a
balanced diet on membrane phospholipid fatty acids composition and
immunolabeling of choline acetyltransferase (ChAt), as a marker of cholinergic
neurons, in left and right striatum of rats. Lateral motor behavior was assessed
by rotation and paw preference.
RESULTS: Control rats had an asymmetric PUFA distribution with a right
behavioral preference, whereas ChAt density was symmetrical. In deficient rats,
the cholinergic neuron density was 30% lower on the right side, associated with
a loss of PUFA asymmetry and behavior laterality. They present higher rotation
behavior, and significantly more of them failed the handedness test.
CONCLUSION: These results indicate that a lack of n-3 PUFA is linked with a
lateral behavior deficit, possibly leading to cognitive disturbances.