Abstract
The aim was to determine the consequences of multi-generational n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) deficiency on emotional response in rats subjected to maternal separation (MS) as chronic early life stress. Pups fed a control or an n-3 PUFA deficient diet were daily separated for 2 weeks before weaning. In adult rats, reward response was assessed by sucrose consumption and reactivity to novelty using openfield test. Both n-3 PUFA deficiency and MS increased reward response and impulsivity. Moreover, nutritional deficiency and stress acted in synergy to elevate sucrose intake by 80%, compared to control conditions. n-3 PUFA deprivation induced a depletion of docosahexanoeic acid of brain membranes by 70% compensated by increase in 22:5 n-6 and arachidonic acid (AA) levels. The diet-induced AA increase was, however, significantly higher in MS rats. This suggests that n-3 PUFA deficit could be an environmental risk increasing vulnerability to depressive-like response induced by chronic stress.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Arachidonic Acid / analysis
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Behavior, Animal / drug effects
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Behavior, Animal / physiology
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Body Weight / physiology
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Brain Chemistry / drug effects*
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Brain Chemistry / physiology
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Depression / metabolism
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Depression / physiopathology*
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Desipramine / pharmacology
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Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / administration & dosage
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Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / metabolism
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Docosahexaenoic Acids / analysis
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Drinking Behavior / drug effects
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Drinking Behavior / physiology
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Eating / physiology
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Fatty Acids / analysis
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Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage*
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Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism
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Female
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Food, Formulated
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Lipids / analysis*
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Lipids / chemistry
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Male
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Maternal Deprivation
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Phosphatidylethanolamines / chemistry
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Rats
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Rats, Wistar
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Stress, Psychological / complications
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Stress, Psychological / metabolism*
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Stress, Psychological / physiopathology*
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Sucrose / administration & dosage
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Water Deprivation / physiology
Substances
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Dietary Fats, Unsaturated
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Fatty Acids
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Fatty Acids, Omega-3
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Lipids
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Phosphatidylethanolamines
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Docosahexaenoic Acids
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Arachidonic Acid
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Sucrose
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Desipramine