Phospholipid supplementation reverses behavioral and biochemical alterations induced by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency in mice

This study investigated the effects of a diet deficient in cw-linolenic aci d followed or not by supplementation with phospholipids rich in n-3 polyuns aturated fatty acids (PUFA) on behavior and phospholipid fatty acid composi tion in selected brain regions, Three weeks before mating, two groups of mi ce were fed a semisynthetic diet containing both linoleic and alpha-linolen ic acid or a diet deficient in alpha-linolenic acid. Pups were fed the same diet as their darns, At the age of 7 weeks, a part of the deficient group was supplemented with n-3 PUFA from either egg yolk or pig brain phospholip ids for 2 months. In the open field, rearing activity was significantly red uced in the deficient group. In the elevated plus maze (anxiety protocol), the time spent on open arms was significantly smaller in deficient mice tha n in controls. Using the learning protocol with the same task, the alpha-li nolenic acid deficiency induced a learning deficit, Rearing activity and le arning deficits were completely restored by supplementation with egg yolk o r cerebral phospholipids, though the level of anxiety remained significantl y higher than that of controls, There were no differences among the 4 diet groups for either the Morris water maze or passive avoidance. In control mi ce, the level of 22:6 n-3 was significantly: higher in the frontal cortex c ompared to all other regions analysed, The frontal cortex and the striatum were the most markedly affected by the deficiency Supplementation with phos pholipids restored normal fatty acid composition in brain regions except fo r frontal cortex. Egg yolk or cerebral phospholipids are an effective sourc e of n-3 PUFA for reversing behavioral changes and altered fatty acid compo sition induced by a diet deficient in n-3 PUFA.