Original Article

Specific phospholipid fatty acid composition of brain regions in mice: effects of n;–3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency and phospholipid supplementation

Correspondence to: Isabelle Carrié

This study examined the effects of dietary -linolenic acid deficiency followed or not by supplementation with phospholipids rich in n;–3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) on the fatty acid composition of total phospholipids in 11 brain regions. Three weeks before mating, mice were fed a semisynthetic diet containing both linoleic and -linolenic acid or deficient in -linolenic acid. Pups were fed the same diet as their dams. At the age of 7 weeks, a part of the deficient group were supplemented with n;–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from either egg yolk or pig brain phospholipids for 2 months. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid levels varied among brain regions and were not significantly affected by the diet. In control mice, the level of 22:6 n;–3 was significantly higher in the frontal cortex compared to all regions. -Linolenic acid deficiency decreased the level of 22:6 n;–3 and was compensated by an increase in 22:5 n;–6 in all regions. However, the brain regions were affected differently. After the pituitary gland, the frontal cortex, and the striatum were the most markedly affected with 40% reduction of 22:6 n;–3. Supplementation with egg yolk or cerebral phospholipids in deficient mice restored a normal fatty acid composition in brain regions except for the frontal cortex. There was a regional distribution of the fatty acids in the brain and the impact of deficiency in -linolenic acid was region-specific.

Dietary egg yolk or cerebral phospholipids are an effective source of n;–3 PUFA for the recovery of altered fatty acid composition induced by a diet deficient in n;–3 PUFA.—Carrié, I., M. Clément, D. de Javel, H. Francès, and J-M. Bourre. Specific phospholipid fatty acid composition of brain regions in mice: effects of n;–3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency and phospholipid supplementation. J. Lipid Res. 2000. 41: 465;–472.

Supplementary key words: brain regions, fatty acid composition, n;–3 PUFA deficiency, phospholipid supplementation

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