α-Linolenic acid deficiency modifies distractibility but not anxiety and locomotion in rats during aging.
The Journal of Nutrition. 1998-09-01; 128(9): 1537-1542
DOI: 10.1093/jn/128.9.1537
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Belzung C(1), Leguisquet AM, Barreau S, Delion-Vancassel S, Chalon S, Durand G.
Author information:
(1)Laboratoire d’Ethologie et de Pharmacologie du Comportement, F-37200 Tours, France.
In rodents, chronic dietary alpha-linolenic acid deficiency decreases learning
and memory and alters dopaminergic and serotoninergic neurotransmission.
However, these two neurotransmitter systems are related mainly to attention,
emotion and locomotion. Therefore, we decided to investigate the effects of
dietary alpha-linolenic acid deficiency in rats tested with animal models of
distractibility (the distractometer procedure), anxiety (the elevated plus maze)
and ambulatory activity (a circular corridor). Moreover, because these
neurochemical modifications persist during aging, we decided to study the
effects of aging on these behaviors by using rats aged 2, 6, 12 and 24 mo. An
age-related decline in distractibility was observed that was accelerated by
linolenic acid deficiency. Indeed, an age-related reduction in distractibility
was found in so far as distraction time was reduced at the age of 12 mo in
controls and at the age of 24 mo in deficient groups compared with 2-mo-old
rats. Moreover, distraction time was significantly lower in 6- and 24-mo-old
rats fed a deficient diet compared with age-matched controls. Anxiety was not
modified by diet or age. Finally, a parallel decrease in locomotion was
exhibited by rats fed both diets between 6 and 12 mo of age. Locomotion was not
modified by diet. These results show that dietary alpha-linolenic deficiency
alters behavior in a very specific way; distractibility is modified by diet,
whereas anxiety and locomotion are not, suggesting that particular brain areas
may be altered.
DOI: 10.1093/jn/128.9.1537
PMID: 9732316 [Indexed for MEDLINE]