• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.32-40
• /
• 1996

To investigate the effect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) and environmental enrichment on brain fatty acid composition and acetylcholinesterase(AChE) activity, two groups of was fed isocaloric diets containing 10 or 12% dietary lipids for 7 weeks. A third group was fed 10% (w/w) dietary lipids with supplemented 2% DHA-rich fish oil. Each diet group was housed either in a stainless steel cage individually or in a large enriched cage with toys where 7 rats were kept together. The fatty acid composition of plasma and brain was significantly affected by dietary lipid composition but not by environmental enrichment. Fish oil supplementation significanlty decreased plasma levels of monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFA) and increased polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA). Fish oil supplemented groups also maintained lower plasma n-6 fatty acids and higher n-3 fatty acids levels than unsupplemented groups. The fish oil supplementation significantly decreased arachidonic acid and increased eicosapentaenic, docosapentaenoic acids, and DHA in brain fatty acid composition. In addition, brain DHA level in supplemented groups tended higher than the unsupplemented. Brain, AChE activity significantly increased by the environmental enrichment but not by the fish oil supplementation. These finding suggest that the 2% fish oil (0.57% DHA & 0.31% EPA, per diet weigth) supplementation is enough to accumulate n-3 fatty acids and to change the n-6 n-3 ratio in brain and environmental enrichment might promote the learning ability.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.83-92
• /
• 2001

This study evaluated the effects of Dioscorea batatas and Gastrodia rhizoma on fatty acid composition of serum, liver and brain in rats which were fed control diet adding 5%, 10%, 15% Dioscorea batatas powder and 5%, 10%, 15% Gastrodia rhizoma powder for 3 weeks, respectively. In the other total fatty acid composition of serum lipids, the percentage of SFA was higher in the control group than in the other groups. The percentages 18:2 and 20:4 in serum lipids were significantly higher in the group 5, 6 and 7 than control group. In phospholipid fatty acid composition of serum lipids, the percentage of 18:2 was significantly higher in the group 5, 6 and 7 than in the other groups. 16:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2 and 20:4 were the main fatty acid in the total fatty acid and phospholipid fatty acid composition of liver lipids. 16:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2, 20:4 and 22:6 were the main fatty acid in the total fatty acid and phospholipid fatty acid composition of brain lipids.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.27 no.9
• /
• pp.901-909
• /
• 1994

The effects of sardine oil(high in eicosapentaenoic acid : EPA) and tuna oil(high in docosahexaenoic acid : DHA, also high in EPA) on fatty acid composition of brain and learning ability were evaluated in male weanling Sprague-Dawley rats and compared with the effects of corn oil and beef tallow. Animals assigned by randomized block design to one of the four experimental diet groups containing dietary lipid at 15%(w/w) level were given ad libitum for 7 weeks. Food intake and body weight gain of the fish oil groups were significantly lower than those of the corn oil and beef tallow groups. However, brain weights of the groups were not significantly different. In the brain fatty acid composition, the corn oil group showed high concentrations of n-6 fatty acids, the fish oil groups of n-3 fatty acids, and the beef tallow group of saturated fatty acids. Brain EPA and DHA contents of the fish oil groups showed significantly higher than the other groups while the brain ratio of saturated/monounsaturated/polyunsaturated fatty acid was controlled in a narrow range. In a maze test, the fish oil groups appeared to arrive at the goal faster than the corn oil and beef tallow groups. It explained that EPA in diets might efficiently convert to DHA resulting in DHA accumulation in brain tissue and might increase the learning performance as DHA did.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.555-560
• /
• 1994

In order to observe the effects of the fees mixed with the lard and two vegetable seed oils on the fatty acid compositions of liver and brain tissue, the oils mixed with 2.5% lard and various levels of perilla oil and evening primrose oil were administered to the male rats of the Sprague-Dawley for 4 weeks . In the fatty acid composition of liver lipid, saturated fatty acid (SFA) contents were rich in the phopholiipide and cholesteryl ester fraction. Monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) contents were rich in the triglyceride fraction and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents were rich in the phospholipid fraction. In the fatty acid composition of liver lipid fractions, according as the contents of mixed perilla oil decreased and the contents of mixed evening primrose oil increased , n -3 PUFA contents tended to decrease and n-6 PUFA contents tended to increase. Fatty acid composition of liver lipid fractions were influenced from the fatty acid composition of the test lipids. In the fatty acid composition of brain phospholipd, PUFA contents (40%) were rich and according as the contents of mixed evening primrose oil increased, the ratio on n-3/n-6 PUFA and eicosapentaenoid acid (EPA) /arachidonic acid (AA) tended to slightly decrease.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.75-80
• /
• 1999

The effects of dietary n-3 fatty acids, ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid (18:3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6), on brain phospholipid content and fatty acid composition were compared in rats fed with a diet containing constant ratios of saturated fatty acid/monounsaturated fatty acid/polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and n-3/n-6. The dietary fat in each diet was added at the level of 10%. In each diet, n-3 PUFA comprised two-thirds of the PUFA and the remaining one-third was linoleic acid (18:2). Dietary fat containing linoleic acid as the sole source of PUFA was also given to the control group. The content of brain phospholipid in the three n-3 PUFA groups was significantly lower than that of the linoleic acid group. This reduction was greater in the EPA and DHA groups than in the ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid group. The decrease in phospholipid content in rats fed n-3 fatty acid-rich diets was largely due to the decrease in the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction. Each dietary n-3 PUFA was found to affect the fatty acid composition of brain phospholipids; the most pronounced alteration was observed in phosphatidylethanolamine fraction. Furthermore, the proportion of DHA in the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction tended to be higher in the DHA group than in other PUFA groups. In conclusion, dietary ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid, EPA and DHA can influence the phospholipid content, phospholipid subclass, and fatty acid composition in rat brain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.205-211
• /
• 1994

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of the feeding mixture of linseed oil, rich in n-6 PUFA on the lipid metabolism in the dietary hyperlipidemic rats. After male Sprague-Dawley rats were induced hyperlipidemia by feeding the diet containing lard, butter and cholesterol for 3 weeks. then they were fed with the diet containing lard 3.0% and butter 12.0% for control, the mixture in different proportion of both linseed oil and sunflower seed oil, and antihyperlipidemic drugs for 2 weeks. Analysis of the fatty acid composition of the brain and heart lipids showed following results. In the fatty acid composition of brain lipids, C20:4 and C22:6 were the major fatty acids but showed little difference among the groups. In the fatty acid of heart lipids,C18:2 was the major fatty acid. The proportion of C20:4 decreased gradually as n-3P/n-6P ratio of the test lipids increased in groups 5 (linseed oil 12.0%) to 9 (sunflower seed oil 12.0%) while the proportion of C22:6 was not affected by the fatty acid composition of the test lipids.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.661-671
• /
• 1993

The change in fatty acid composition in brain tissue of the second generation rats(Sprague-Dawley strain) was studied using four different fat diets(Corn oil=CO, Soybean oil=SO, Perilla oil=PO, Fish oil=FO, 10% by Wt). The experimental diets were started from pregnancy in four different groups, each consisting of 9 rats. The seound generation rats were fed the same diet as their mothers. Animals were anesthetized with ether at 0, 3, 9 & 16 weeks of age. Whole brains were dissected out, brain tissues were, then, homogenized and lipids were extracted from brain tissues. The fatty acid compositions were measured after methylation by gas-liquid chromatography at 0, 3, 9 and 16 weeks of age of offspring. The changes in the relative concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA) or more specifically docosahexaenoic acid(22 : 6, $\omega$3, DHA), the major $\omega$3 fatty acid component in rat brain at different age were similar to changes in the amount of DNA in brain tissue showing the maximum value during the lactation. The changes in saturated fatty acid(SFA) content showed a contrasting patten to those of PUFA, while monounsaturated fatty acid(MUFA) increased steadily throughout the experimental period. At birth, the relative concentrations of $\omega$3 series fatty acids the relative concentrations of PUFA, MUFA and SFA converged to very similar values respectively regardless of the dietary fatty acid compositions. In brain tissue, it is of value to note that while changes in relative concentrations of linoleic acid (18 : 2, $\omega$6, LA) and arachidonic acid(20 : 4, $\omega$6, AA) showed a precursor-product-like relationship, $\alpha$-linolenic acid(18 : 3, $\omega$3, $\alpha$-LnA) and DHA showed a different pattern. Even when the $\omega$3 fatty acid content in very low in maternal diet(CO), the second generation rat brain tissues appeared to secure DHA content, suggesting an essential role of this fatty acid in the brain. The fact that a large amount of $\alpha$-LnA in the maternal diet did not have a significant effect on the second generation rat brain $\alpha$-LnA content, indicated that DHA seemed essential component for the brain development in our experimental condition. In all groups, the relative content of $\alpha$-LnA in the brain tissues remained relatively constant throughout the experimental period at the very low level. The study of the specific concentrations and essential role(s) of DHA in each parts of brain tissue is needed in more details.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.10
• /
• pp.1417-1423
• /
• 2009

Previous studies have suggested that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation into n-3 fatty acid deficient diet improved spatial learning performance, but there was no significant difference in brain related function when DHA was added into a n-3 fatty acid adequate diet. Here, we investigated the effect of adding DHA into an n-3 fatty acid deficient or adequate diet on brain and liver fatty acid composition. On the second day after conception, Sprague Dawley strain dams were divided into four groups as follows; n-3 fatty acid deficient (Def), n-3 fatty acid deficient plus DHA (Def+DHA, 10.2% DHA), n-3 fatty acid adequate (Adq, 3.4% linolenic acid), and n-3 fatty acid adequate plus DHA (Adq+DHA, 3.31% linolenic acid plus 9.65% DHA). After weaning, male pups were fed on the same diets of their respective dams until adulthood. In brain fatty acid composition, the Def group showed a lower brain DHA (64% decrease), which was largely compensated for by an increase in docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-6). Brain DHA in the Def+DHA group was increased to almost the same extent as in the Adq and Adq+DHA groups and there were no significant differences among them. Liver fatty acid composition showed a similar pattern to that of the brain, but liver DHA in the Def+DHA showed the highest percentage among the diet groups. In conclusion, n-3 fatty acid deficiency from gestation to adulthood leads to decreased brain DHA, which has been shown to be highly associated with poor spatial leaning performance. Thus, adequate brain DHA levels are required for optimal nervous function.

• Nutritional Sciences
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.3-12
• /
• 2001

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are important components of brain phospholipds and play important role (s) in brain function. In rats, the maximum brain growth occurs during the period of lactation even though it happens during the third trimester of gestation in human. Since milk contained docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) even through the maternal diet had no DHA and/or a very small amount of its precursor, $\alpha$-linolenic acid ($\alpha$-LnA), an emphasis was given to maternal adipose tissue as a reservoir of this fatty acid. We, therefore, investigated the mesenteric and subcutaneous adipose tissues for their fatty acid composition in dams reared with different fat diets. Diets containing various amounts of $\omega$6 and $\omega$3 fatty acids were given to adult female rats (200-250g) throughout the pregnancy and lactation periods. Diets were composed of 10% (wt/wt) corn oil (CO), soybean oil (SO), perilla seed oil (PO) containing about 60% $\alpha$-LnA, or fish oil (FO) rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA. The fatty acid ompositions of mesenteric and subcutaneous fat were measured and evaluated at Day-2 and Day-15 after parturition. In general, major characteristics of dietary fatty acid composition was reflected on the fatty acid composition of adipose tissues. Dietary fatty acid composition was reflected more on mesenteric fat as compared to subcutaneous fat. Mesenteric fat was found to contain less arachidonic acid (AA) and mesenteric fats of CO, SO and PO groups contained less DHA than did the subcutaneous fat. The P/M/S ratios of adipose tissues were similar between experimental groups while dietary P/M/S ratios differed significantly. It was noticeable that a small proportion of DHA was found in the adipose tissues of animals of CO, SO and PO groups (Day-2) and in SO and PO groups (Day-15), the groups which do not contain DHA in their diets. The percentage of DHA in mesenteric fat o CO, SO and PO groups decreased as lactation continues, while the proportion of DHA in FO group increased. Adipose tissues of FO group had higher DHA/EPA ratio as compared to the diet. Considering the fact that the body contains a large amount of adipose tissues, our present finding suggests that the adipose tissue can serve as a reservoir of DHA for pregnant and lactating rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.418-425
• /
• 1991

This study was designed to observe the effects of the fish oil and some seed oils on the improvement of the fatty acid compositions of liver and brain tissue in rats. In order to induce the hypertriglyceridemia in the rats of the Sprague-Dawley, 12% coconut oil and 3% each of olive oil, lard, fish oil, perilla oil, corn oil, red pepper seed oil and evening primrose oil were administered to the rats for 4 weeks. In the fatty acid composition of liver lipid, n-3 PUFA contents were most in the fish oil and perilla oil groups of phospholipid fraction, and n-6 PUFA contents were most in the corn oil, red pepper seed oil and evening primrose oil groups of triglyceride fractions. Fatty acid composition of liver lipid fractions were influenced from the fatty acid composition of the test lipids. In the fatty acid composition of brain phospholipid, n-3 PUFA contents (8.8~17.2%) were most in the fish oil group, and n-6 PUFA (34.6~38.2%), though it contains high percentage, showed little difference between groups.