N. Salem et al., Alterations in brain function after loss of docosahexaenoate due to dietary restriction of n-3 fatty acids, J MOL NEURO, 16(2-3), 2001, pp. 299-307
The concentration of the major polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in brain,
docosahexaenoate, may be markedly reduced by two or more generations of die
tary restriction of sources of n-3 fatty acids in the diet. Such a deficien
cy was induced through the feeding of safflower oil as the principal source
of essential fatty acids. The reference point for this diet was an n-3 ade
quate diet to which alpha-linoleate and docosahexaenoate were added through
the addition of a small quantity of flax seed or algael oils, respectively
. The loss of brain DHA was associated with poorer performance in spatial t
asks and an olfactory-cued reversal learning task. No difference could be o
bserved in the hippocampal gross morphology. This study demonstrates the im
portance of providing a source of n-3 fatty acids during mammalian growth a
nd development.