Research article summary (published 22 Jun 2008):

Synergistic effects of stress and omega-3 fatty acid deprivation on emotional response and brain lipid composition in adult rats.

Full Abstract

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.

Author information

Author/s: Mathieu, G (G); Denis, S (S); Lavialle, M (M); Vancassel, S (S);

Affiliation: Unité de Nutrition et Régulation Lipidiques des Fonctions Cérébrales, NuRéLiCe, INRA Domaine de Vilvert, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France. geraldine.mathieu(-atsign-)jouy.inra.fr

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids (Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids), published in Scotland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jun; vol 78 (issue 6) : pp 391-401

Dates: Created 2008/07/08; Completed 2008/10/10;

PMID: 18579362, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Animals, Newborn Arachidonic Acid - analysis Behavior, Animal - drug effects; physiology Body Weight - physiology Brain Chemistry - drug effects; physiology Depression - metabolism; physiopathology Desipramine - pharmacology Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - administration & dosage; metabolism Docosahexaenoic Acids - analysis Drinking Behavior - drug effects; physiology Eating - physiology Fatty Acids - analysis

Fatty Acids - analysis Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; metabolism Female Food, Formulated Lipids - analysis; chemistry Male Maternal Deprivation Phosphatidylethanolamines - chemistry Rats Rats, Wistar Stress, Psychological - complications; metabolism; physiopathology Sucrose - administration & dosage Water Deprivation - physiology

Associated Chemicals: Dietary Fats, Unsaturated (0) ; Fatty Acids (0) ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 (0) ; Lipids (0) ; Phosphatidylethanolamines (0) ; Docosahexaenoic Acids (25167-62-8) ; Desipramine (50-47-5) ; Arachidonic Acid (506-32-1) ; Sucrose (57-50-1)

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