Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play an essential role in brain development. Emerging data have suggested a possible link between an imbalance in PUFAs and cognitive behavioral deficits in offspring. A diet rich in high linoleic acid (HLA), typically from preconception to lactation, leads to an increase in the ratio of omega-6 (n-6) to omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids in the fetus. Arising research has suggested that a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids is a potential risk factor for inducing autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-like behavioral deficits. However, the impact of a high n- diet during preconception, pregnancy, lactation, and post-weaning on the brain development of adolescent offspring are yet to be determined. This study examined whether consumption of an HLA diet during pregnancy, lactation, and post-weaning induced social and cognitive impairments in female and male offspring rats that resemble autistic phenotypes in humans. Female Wistar Kyoto rats were fed with either HLA or low linoleic acid (LLA) control diet for 10 weeks before mating, then continued with the same diet throughout the pregnancy and lactation period. Female and male offspring at 5 weeks old were subjected to behavioral tests to assess social interaction behavior and depression-/anxiety-like behavior. Our result showed that chronic consumption of an HLA diet did not affect sociability and social recognition memory, but induced depression-like behavior in male but not in female offspring.
Highlights
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social interaction disability, repetitive behavioral patterns, and cognitive rigidity [1]
Male offspring from dams with the high linoleic acid (HLA) diet showed a significant increase in immobility time in the forced swim test (FST), indicating an increase in depression-like behavior (Fig. 2A; P < 0.05 vs Males-linoleic acid (LLA))
Emerging data have suggested that a balanced ratio of Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in diet could be essential for maintaining brain health
Summary
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social interaction disability, repetitive behavioral patterns, and cognitive rigidity [1]. ASD patients can present learning and memory impairments [2,3] and emotional dysregulation such as depression [4] and anxiety [5]. The underlying causes of ASD are not fully understood, accumulating evidence has suggested that in addition to genetic factors, maternal perturbations in nutrition could lead to ASD [10]. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential for normal brain growth and development by regulating neurogenesis and synapse for mation [11]. Maternal diet is the sole supply of fetal n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, which crosses the placenta and reach the developing fetus [14,15]
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