Supplementing female rats with DHA-lysophosphatidylcholine increases docosahexaenoic acid and acetylcholine contents in the brain and improves the memory and learning capabilities of the pups.

Abstract

DHA has been established. We propose that DHAcontaining lysophosphatidylcholine (DHA-LPC), obtained from DHA-rich eggs may be a suitable form of DHA and choline (the precursor of acetylcholine) supplementation. We evaluated the effectiveness of DHA-LPC to increase DHA and acetylcholine concentration in the brain of pups born from female rats supplemented with DHA-LPC before and during pregnancy. We also evaluated the effect of DHA supplementation on learning and memory capabilities of pups through the Skinner test for operant conditioning. Female Wistar rats received 40-day supplementation of DHA-LPC (8 mg DHA/kg b.w/daily.), before and during pregnancy. After delivery, plasma, erythrocyte, liver, and adipose tissue DHA and plasma choline were analyzed. Brains from 60 day-old pups separated into frontal cortex, cerebellum, striatum, hippocampus, and occipital cortex, were assessed for DHA, acetylcholine, and acetylcholine transferase (CAT) activity. Pups were subjected to the Skinner box test. DHA-LPC supplementation produces higher choline and liver DHA contents in the mother's plasma and increases the pups' DHA and acetylcholine in the cerebellum and hippocampus. CAT was not modified by supplementation. The Skinner test shows that pups born from DHA-LPC supplemented mothers exhibit better scores of learning and memory than the controls. Conclusion: DHA-LPC may be an adequate form for DHA supplementation during the perinatal period. KEY-WORDS: Brain acetylcholine -Choline -DHA supplementation -Lysophospholipids -Skinner box test.

Dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as lysophosphatidylcholine, but not as free acid, enriches brain DHA and improves memory in adult mice

“…A previous study, in which female rats were fed DHA-enriched egg LPC of unknown composition, showed that the pups derived from these animals had increased DHA levels in some brain regions, and exhibited improved operant learning ability 43 , indicating increased passage of DHA through the placenta. However, the brain DHA levels of the mothers were not measured in this study.…”

DHA supplementation during pregnancy as phospholipids or TAG produces different placental uptake but similar fetal brain accretion in neonatal piglets

“…Surprisingly, the major accumulation of DHA in placenta of these animals did not lead to a higher DHA status in the offspring. Valenzuela et al (49) showed increased DHA levels in PL fraction of cerebellum and hippocampus of pups at 2 months of age after maternal supplementation during pregnancy with DHA as Lyso-PC in rats. In our study, the level of Lyso-PC was minimal in the diets as Ovolife product contained <3 % of total fat as Lyso-PL, with phosphatidylcholine being the major PL source (64-79 % of total PL).…”

Omega-3 Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Mood Disorders: Why and How to Provide Supplementation?

“…DHA is concentrated in the phospholipids of neuronal tissues, including hippocampus and cerebellum, which are involved in learning as well as in memory storage [22]. Most recently we demonstrated that DHA supplementation to mother rats during the perinatal period, increases the DHA content of different brain segments of the pups, including hippocampus and cerebellum, and improves the learning and memory capacities of the pups when evaluated through the Skinner box test [23]. As part of the diacylglycerol molecule, DHA may enhance the diacylglycerol-dependent activation of the protein kinase C (PKC) [24].…”