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The Use of Artificial Rearing of Infant Mice from Day 2 of Life: One Generation Model of n‐3 Fatty Acid Deficiency
Author(s) -
Abdalla Nahed Hussein,
Fedorova Irina,
Moriguchi Toru,
Majchrzak Sharon,
Martino Carmine,
Hoshiba Junji,
Salem Norman
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a321-b
Subject(s) - fatty acid , biology , medicine , biochemistry , endocrinology , zoology
Background: There is a substantial literature indicating that the chemistry and function of both the developing and mature brain can be influenced by the diet. An artificial rearing approach is presented that allows control of tissue essential fatty acid composition. Methods: A hand feeding method using nursing bottles developed by Prof. J. Hoshiba was employed from postnatal day 2–15. The pups were fed an n‐3 fatty acid adequate (LNA+DHA) or deficient diet along with dam‐reared controls (dams fed 3% LNA). Pups were weaned to pelleted diets with a fat composition similar to that fed during the artificial rearing period. The dam‐reared reference group was weaned onto the same diet as their dams. Results: Restriction of n‐3 fatty acid intake during postnatal development leads to markedly lower levels of brain and retinal DHA with replacement by 22:5n‐6. Peripheral tissues became extremely depleted in n‐3 fatty acids while n‐6 polyunsaturates increased markedly. Conclusion: Development of this technique will facilitate dietary studies of transgenic and knockout animals as well as the study n‐3 essential fatty acid function in the nervous system and other organs. This project was funded by the Intramural Research Program of the NIAAA, NIH.