Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on cognitive functions, electrocortical activity and neurogenesis in a non-human primate, the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)

Behavioural Brain Research
Julie RoyoF Pifferi

Abstract

Among environmental factors that may affect on brain function, some nutrients and particularly n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) are required for optimal brain development. Their effects on cognitive functions, however, are still unclear, and studies in humans and rodents have yielded contradictory results. We used a non-human primate model, the grey mouse lemur, phylogenetically close to human. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the impact of n-3 PUFA supplementation on cognitive functions, neuronal activity and neurogenesis. Two groups of animals whose diet was supplemented with either fish oil (rich in n-3 PUFA) or olive oil as a control. These two groups were subjected to a visual discrimination task and to a test of anxiety in the open-field. In parallel, cortical activity was measured with telemetric ECoG recordings. Finally, adult neurogenesis was investigated ex vivo by means of immunohistochemistry. Animals supplemented with fish oil exhibited better visual discrimination performance and tended to have lower anxiety levels. Furthermore, supplementation increased the power of alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands in the EEG, which are related to various aspects of memory and decision-making. This study al...Continue Reading

Citations

Oct 17, 2019·Frontiers in Neuroanatomy·Julie RoyoFabien Pifferi
Jul 11, 2020·Neurobiology of Aging·Daniel SchmidtkeNadine Mestre-Francés
Apr 17, 2020·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Lionel DahanCédrick Florian

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