Abstract
The concentration of the major polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in brain, docosahexaenoate, may be markedly reduced by two or more generations of dietary restriction of sources of n-3 fatty acids in the diet. Such a deficiency 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 adequate 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 tasks and an olfactory-cued reversal learning task. No difference could be observed in the hippocampal gross morphology. This study demonstrates the importance of providing a source of n-3 fatty acids during mammalian growth and development.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Brain / embryology
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Brain / physiopathology*
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Brain Chemistry / drug effects*
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Coconut Oil
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Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
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Dietary Fats / pharmacology
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Dietary Fats / therapeutic use*
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Docosahexaenoic Acids / administration & dosage
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Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacokinetics
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Docosahexaenoic Acids / therapeutic use*
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Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage
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Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / pharmacokinetics
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Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / pharmacology
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Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / therapeutic use*
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Fatty Acids, Omega-6
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Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / pharmacokinetics
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Female
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Hippocampus / drug effects
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Hippocampus / pathology
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Learning Disabilities / chemically induced*
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Learning Disabilities / metabolism
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Learning Disabilities / prevention & control
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Linseed Oil / pharmacology
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Linseed Oil / therapeutic use
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Male
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Maternal-Fetal Exchange
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Maze Learning / drug effects
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Plant Oils / administration & dosage
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Pregnancy
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Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
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Rats
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Reversal Learning / drug effects
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Safflower Oil / administration & dosage
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Smell / drug effects
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Smell / physiology
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alpha-Linolenic Acid / administration & dosage
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alpha-Linolenic Acid / pharmacology
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alpha-Linolenic Acid / therapeutic use
Substances
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Dietary Fats
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Fatty Acids, Omega-3
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Fatty Acids, Omega-6
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Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
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Plant Oils
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alpha-Linolenic Acid
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Docosahexaenoic Acids
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Safflower Oil
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Linseed Oil
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Coconut Oil