Dietary Long-Chain n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation Alters Electrophysiological Properties in the Nucleus Accumbens and Emotional Behavior in Naïve and Chronically Stressed Mice

Abstract

Long-chain (LC) n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have drawn attention in the field of neuropsychiatric disorders, in particular depression. However, whether dietary supplementation with LC n-3 PUFA protects from the development of mood disorders is still a matter of debate. In the present study, we studied the effect of a two-month exposure to isocaloric diets containing n-3 PUFAs in the form of relatively short-chain (SC) (6% of rapeseed oil, enriched in α-linolenic acid (ALA)) or LC (6% of tuna oil, enriched in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) PUFAs on behavior and synaptic plasticity of mice submitted or not to a chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), previously reported to alter emotional and social behavior, as well as synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). First, fatty acid content and lipid metabolism gene expression were measured in the NAc of mice fed a SC (control) or LC n-3 (supplemented) PUFA diet. Our results indicate that LC n-3 supplementation significantly increased some n-3 PUFAs, while decreasing some n-6 PUFAs. Then, in another cohort, control and n-3 PUFA-supplemented mice were subjected to CSDS, and social and emotional behaviors were assessed, together with long-term depression plasticity in accumbal medium spiny neurons. Overall, mice fed with n-3 PUFA supplementation displayed an emotional behavior profile and electrophysiological properties of medium spiny neurons which was distinct from the ones displayed by mice fed with the control diet, and this, independently of CSDS. Using the social interaction index to discriminate resilient and susceptible mice in the CSDS groups, n-3 supplementation promoted resiliency. Altogether, our results pinpoint that exposure to a diet rich in LC n-3 PUFA, as compared to a diet rich in SC n-3 PUFA, influences the NAc fatty acid profile. In addition, electrophysiological properties and emotional behavior were altered in LC n-3 PUFA mice, independently of CSDS. Our results bring new insights about the effect of LC n-3 PUFA on emotional behavior and synaptic plasticity.

A novel wrinkled-leaf sesame mutant as a potential edible leafy vegetable rich in nutrients

“…3 ), which were much abundant than other oil crops such as rapeseed (1.0–3.5%) 34 . As is well documented, C18:3 is one of the essential fatty acids processing many physiological functions, such as reducing blood lipids and preventing thrombosis 35 , 36 . The content of C18:3 in the mutant was slightly lower than that in the wild type.…”

Dietary and Metabolic Approaches for Treating Autism Spectrum Disorders, Affective Disorders and Cognitive Impairment Comorbid with Epilepsy: A Review of Clinical and Preclinical Evidence

“…Preclinical studies indicate that the supplementation of long-chain PUFAs has antidepressant/anxiolytic effects in the forced swim test, tail suspension, elevated plus maze, or open field test [ 86 , 87 , 88 ]. PUFAs also exert nutrigenetic effects by activating PPARgamma (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma), which is anti-inflammatory against cytokines like TNF-alpha and IL-1 β; the direct administration of these cytokines is sufficient to produce the complete spectrum of depressive disorder [ 10 , 11 , 89 , 90 ].…”

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“…In the case of CS, if selected foods could be used as a preventive measure to alleviate CS-related symptoms including depression, it would provide adolescents with safer health protection. Recent studies have revealed that some food-based active ingredients, such as polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, polyphenols and unsaturated fatty acids, have specific regulatory effects on some chronic stress-related health issues [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. However, there is a lack of research on interventions for physiological and psychological function impairment in animals or humans experiencing CS during their growth period, which limits the development of products to improve CS.…”