ALPHA-LINOLENIC ACID DEFICIENCY MODIFIES DISTRACTIBILITY BUT NOT ANXIETY AND LOCOMOTION IN RATS DURING AGING

In rodents, chronic dietary cr-linolenic acid deficiency decreases lea rning and memory and alters dopaminergic and serotoninergic neurotrans mission. However, these two neurotransmitter systems are related mainl y to attention, emotion and locomotion. Therefore, we decided to inves tigate the effects of dietary alpha-linolenic acid deficiency in rats tested with animal models of distractibility (the distractometer proce dure), anxiety (the elevated plus maze) and ambulatory activity (a cir cular corridor). Moreover, because these neurochemical modifications p ersist 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 decli ne in distractibility was observed that was accelerated by linolenic a cid deficiency. Indeed, an age-related reduction in distractibility wa s 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 co ntrols. Anxiety was not modified by diet or age. Finally, a parallel d ecrease in locomotion was exhibited by rats fed both diets between 6 a nd 12 mo of age. Locomotion was not modified by diet. These results sh ow that dietary alpha-linolenic deficiency alters behavior in a very s pecific way; distractibility is modified by diet, whereas anxiety and locomotion are not, suggesting that particular brain areas may be alte red.