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Effects of a diet rich in omega‐3 essential fatty acids on behavior in an attentional task and monoamine transmitter levels in the medial prefrontal cortex of adolescent rats
Author(s) -
Mokler David J.,
McGaughy Jill A.,
Staiti Amanda M.,
Morgane Peter J.,
Galler Janina R.,
Brym Francine J.,
Bass Donna C.
Publication year - 2009
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.23.1_supplement.938.12
Subject(s) - microdialysis , monoamine neurotransmitter , basal (medicine) , prefrontal cortex , medicine , endocrinology , neurotransmitter , extracellular , serotonin , psychology , chemistry , neuroscience , dopamine , central nervous system , receptor , biochemistry , cognition , insulin
Omega‐3 essential fatty acids (Ω3‐EFAs) have been suggested as a treatment for depression and ADD. Male adolescent rats were put on a diet balanced 1:1 with Ω3:Ω 6 essential fatty acids (EFAs) or a diet high in Ω6 EFAs acids (25:1 Ω6:Ω 3) from postnatal days 21 to 45. Male adolescent rats were tested in the intradimension/extradimensional attentional set‐shifting (ID/ED) task on days 40‐45 of age. The ID/ED has previously been used only in adult animals. Following completion of the ID/ED, animals were implanted with a 2mm microdialysis probe into the ventral mPFC (vmPFC). After determination of basal levels of norepinephrine (NE), DA and 5‐HT, animals were again run in the ID/ED task. Implantation of a microdialysis probe into the vmPFC did not affect performance in the ID/ED task. Basal levels of NE were higher in the 25:1 dietary group while basal levels of DA and 5‐HT did not differ between groups. Extracellular 5‐HT decreased during the task in the 1:1 dietary group but not in the 25:1 group. These data suggest that a diet rich in omega‐3 EFAs in adolescent rats produces changes in neurotransmitter levels but does not alter attention in an ID/ED task. Supported by EAST and MH074811‐01.