Causal Link between n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Deficiency and Motivation Deficits

Operant Training for Highly Palatable Food Alters Translating Messenger RNA in Nucleus Accumbens D2 Neurons and Reveals a Modulatory Role of Ncdn

BACKGROUND

Highly palatable food triggers behavioral responses including strong motivation. These effects involve the reward system and dopamine neurons, which modulate neurons in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The molecular mechanisms underlying the long-lasting effects of highly palatable food on feeding behavior are poorly understood.

METHODS

We studied the effects of 2-week operant conditioning of mice with standard or isocaloric highly palatable food. We investigated the behavioral responses and dendritic spine modifications in the NAc. We compared the translating messenger RNA in NAc neurons identified by the type of dopamine receptors they express, depending on the kind of food and training. We tested the consequences of invalidation of an abundant downregulated gene, Ncdn.

RESULTS

Operant conditioning for highly palatable food increased motivation for food even in well-fed mice. In wild-type mice, free choice between regular and highly palatable food increased weight compared with access to regular food only. Highly palatable food increased spine density in the NAc. In animals trained for highly palatable food, translating messenger RNAs were modified in NAc neurons expressing dopamine D2 receptors, mostly corresponding to striatal projection neurons, but not in neurons expressing D1 receptors. Knockout of Ncdn, an abundant downregulated gene, opposed the conditioning-induced changes in satiety-sensitive feeding behavior and apparent motivation for highly palatable food, suggesting that downregulation may be a compensatory mechanism.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results emphasize the importance of messenger RNA alterations in D2 striatal projection neurons in the NAc in the behavioral consequences of highly palatable food conditioning and suggest a modulatory contribution of Ncdn downregulation.

Nucleus accumbens D1- and D2-expressing neurons control the balance between feeding and activity-mediated energy expenditure

Accumulating evidence points to dysregulations of the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) in eating disorders (ED), however its precise contribution to ED symptomatic dimensions remains unclear. Using chemogenetic manipulations in male mice, we found that activity of dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons of the NAc core subregion facilitated effort for a food reward as well as voluntary exercise, but decreased food intake, while D2-expressing neurons have opposite effects. These effects are congruent with D2-neurons being more active than D1-neurons during feeding while it is the opposite during running. Chronic manipulations of each subpopulations had limited effects on energy balance. However, repeated activation of D1-neurons combined with inhibition of D2-neurons biased behavior toward activity-related energy expenditure, whilst the opposite manipulations favored energy intake. Strikingly, concomitant activation of D1-neurons and inhibition of D2-neurons precipitated weight loss in anorexia models. These results suggest that dysregulations of NAc dopaminoceptive neurons might be at the core of EDs.

Obesogenic diet induces circuit-specific memory deficits in mice

Obesity is associated with neurocognitive dysfunction, including memory deficits. This is particularly worrisome when obesity occurs during adolescence, a maturational period for brain structures critical for cognition. In rodent models, we recently reported that memory impairments induced by obesogenic high-fat diet (HFD) intake during the periadolescent period can be reversed by chemogenetic manipulation of the ventral hippocampus (vHPC). Here, we used an intersectional viral approach in HFD-fed male mice to chemogenetically inactivate specific vHPC efferent pathways to nucleus accumbens (NAc) or medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during memory tasks. We first demonstrated that HFD enhanced activation of both pathways after training and that our chemogenetic approach was effective in normalizing this activation. Inactivation of the vHPC-NAc pathway rescued HFD-induced deficits in recognition but not location memory. Conversely, inactivation of the vHPC-mPFC pathway restored location but not recognition memory impairments produced by HFD. Either pathway manipulation did not affect exploration or anxiety-like behaviour. These findings suggest that HFD intake throughout adolescence impairs different types of memory through overactivation of specific hippocampal efferent pathways and that targeting these overactive pathways has therapeutic potential.

Low Dopamine D2 Receptor Expression Drives Gene Networks Related to GABA, cAMP, Growth and Neuroinflammation in Striatal Indirect Pathway Neurons

Background

A salient effect of addictive drugs is to hijack the dopamine reward system, an evolutionarily conserved driver of goal-directed behavior and learning. Reduced dopamine type 2 receptor availability in the striatum is an important pathophysiological mechanism for addiction that is both consequential and causal for other molecular, cellular, and neuronal network differences etiologic for this disorder. Here, we sought to identify gene expression changes attributable to innate low expression of the Drd2 gene in the striatum and specific to striatal indirect medium spiny neurons (iMSNs).

Methods

Cre-conditional, translating ribosome affinity purification (TRAP) was used to purify and analyze the translatome (ribosome-bound messenger RNA) of iMSNs from mice with low/heterozygous or wild-type Drd2 expression in iMSNs. Complementary electrophysiological recordings and gene expression analysis of postmortem brain tissue from human cocaine users were performed.

Results

Innate low expression of Drd2 in iMSNs led to differential expression of genes involved in GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) signaling, neural growth, lipid metabolism, neural excitability, and inflammation. Creb1 was identified as a likely upstream regulator, among others. In human brain, expression of FXYD2, a modulatory subunit of the Na/K pump, was negatively correlated with DRD2 messenger RNA expression. In iMSN-TRAP-Drd2HET mice, increased Cartpt and reduced S100a10 (p11) expression recapitulated previous observations in cocaine paradigms. Electrophysiology experiments supported a higher GABA tone in iMSN-Drd2HET mice.

Conclusions

This study provides strong molecular evidence that, in addiction, inhibition by the indirect pathway is constitutively enhanced through neural growth and increased GABA signaling.

The Addiction-Susceptibility TaqIA/Ankk1 Controls Reward and Metabolism Through D2 Receptor-Expressing Neurons

BACKGROUND

A large body of evidence highlights the importance of genetic variants in the development of psychiatric and metabolic conditions. Among these, the TaqIA polymorphism is one of the most commonly studied in psychiatry. TaqIA is located in the gene that codes for the ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 kinase (Ankk1) near the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) gene. Homozygous expression of the A1 allele correlates with a 30% to 40% reduction of striatal D2R, a typical feature of addiction, overeating, and other psychiatric pathologies. The mechanisms by which the variant influences dopamine signaling and behavior are unknown.

METHODS

Here, we used transgenic and viral-mediated strategies to reveal the role of Ankk1 in the regulation of activity and functions of the striatum.

RESULTS

We found that Ankk1 is preferentially enriched in striatal D2R-expressing neurons and that Ankk1 loss of function in the dorsal and ventral striatum leads to alteration in learning, impulsivity, and flexibility resembling endophenotypes described in A1 carriers. We also observed an unsuspected role of Ankk1 in striatal D2R-expressing neurons of the ventral striatum in the regulation of energy homeostasis and documented differential nutrient partitioning in humans with or without the A1 allele.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our data demonstrate that the Ankk1 gene is necessary for the integrity of striatal functions and reveal a new role for Ankk1 in the regulation of body metabolism.

Lipids in major depressive disorder: new kids on the block or old friends revisited?

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a psychiatric mood disorder that results in substantial functional impairment and is characterized by symptoms such as depressed mood, diminished interest, impaired cognitive function, and vegetative symptoms such as disturbed sleep. Although the exact etiology of MDD is unclear, several underlying mechanisms (disturbances in immune response and/or stress response) have been associated with its development, with no single mechanism able to account for all aspects of the disorder. Currently, about 1 in 3 patients are resistant to current antidepressant therapies. Providing an alternative perspective on MDD could therefore pave the way for new, unexplored diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. The central nervous system harbors an enormous pool of lipids and lipid intermediates that have been linked to a plethora of its physiological functions. The aim of this review is therefore to provide an overview of the implications of lipids in MDD and highlight certain MDD-related underlying mechanisms that involve lipids and/or their intermediates. Furthermore, we will also focus on the bidirectional relationship between MDD and the lipid-related disorders obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Analysis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in antipsychotic-free individuals with at-risk mental state and patients with first-episode schizophrenia

Introduction

Abnormalities in membrane phospholipids are considered one of the pathophysiological backgrounds for schizophrenia. This study, explores the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes and its association with clinical characteristics in two groups: individuals with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) and patients experiencing their first-episode of schizophrenia (FES).

Materials and methods

This study measured erythrocyte membrane fatty acids in 72 antipsychotic-free individuals with ARMS, 18 antipsychotic-free patients with FES, and 39 healthy volunteers. Clinical symptoms and cognitive and social functions were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS), and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS).

Results

Eicosapentaenoic and docosapentaenoic acid levels were lower in the ARMS and FES groups than in the healthy control group. In contrast, nervonic acid (NA) levels were markedly higher in the ARMS and FES groups than in the controls, while only the FES group showed higher levels of arachidonic acid. Oleic acid and NA levels were significantly associated with PANSS scores in both the FES and ARMS groups, particularly for the negative and general subscores. However, the patient groups had no significant associations between the fatty acid composition and the BACS, SCoRS, and SOFAS scores. Furthermore, the baseline fatty acid composition did not differ between the ARMS individuals who later developed psychosis (N = 6) and those who were followed for more than 2 years without developing psychosis onset (N = 30).

Discussion

The findings suggest that abnormal fatty acid compositions may be shared in the early stages of schizophrenia and the clinical high-risk state for psychosis and may serve as vulnerability markers of psychopathology.

Strain-specific changes in nucleus accumbens transcriptome and motivation for palatable food reward in mice exposed to maternal separation

Introduction

In humans, adversity in childhood exerts enduring effects on brain and increases the vulnerability to psychiatric diseases. It also leads to a higher risk of eating disorders and obesity. Maternal separation (MS) in mice has been used as a proxy of stress during infancy. We hypothesized that MS in mice affects motivation to obtain palatable food in adulthood and changes gene expression in reward system.

Methods

Male and female pups from C57Bl/6J and C3H/HeN mice strains were subjected to a daily MS protocol from postnatal day (PND) 2 to PND14. At adulthood, their motivation for palatable food reward was assessed in operant cages.

Results

Compared to control mice, male and female C3H/HeN mice exposed to MS increased their instrumental response for palatable food, especially when the effort required to obtain the reward was high. Importantly, this effect is shown in animals fed ad libitum. Transcriptional analysis revealed 375 genes differentially expressed in the nucleus accumbens of male MS C3H/HeN mice compared to the control group, some of these being associated with the regulation of the reward system (e.g., Gnas, Pnoc). Interestingly, C57Bl/6J mice exposed to MS did not show alterations in their motivation to obtain a palatable reward, nor significant changes in gene expression in the nucleus accumbens.

Conclusion

MS produces long-lasting changes in motivation for palatable food in C3H/HeN mice, but has no impact in C57Bl/6J mice. These behavioral alterations are accompanied by drastic changes in gene expression in the nucleus accumbens, a key structure in the regulation of motivational processes.

Impact of membrane lipid polyunsaturation on dopamine D2 receptor ligand binding and signaling

Increasing evidence supports a relationship between lipid metabolism and mental health. In particular, the biostatus of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) correlates with some symptoms of psychiatric disorders, as well as the efficacy of pharmacological treatments. Recent findings highlight a direct association between brain PUFA levels and dopamine transmission, a major neuromodulatory system implicated in the etiology of psychiatric symptoms. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are still unknown. Here we demonstrate that membrane enrichment in the n-3 PUFA docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), potentiates ligand binding to the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R), suggesting that DHA acts as an allosteric modulator of this receptor. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm that DHA has a high preference for interaction with the D2R and show that membrane unsaturation selectively enhances the conformational dynamics of the receptor around its second intracellular loop. We find that membrane unsaturation spares G protein activity but potentiates the recruitment of β-arrestin in cells. Furthermore, in vivo n-3 PUFA deficiency blunts the behavioral effects of two D2R ligands, quinpirole and aripiprazole. These results highlight the importance of membrane unsaturation for D2R activity and provide a putative mechanism for the ability of PUFAs to enhance antipsychotic efficacy.

Dietary omega-3 fatty acid deficiency from pre-pregnancy to lactation affects expression of genes involved in hippocampal neurogenesis of the offspring

Maternal n-3 PUFA (omega-3) deficiency can affect brain development in utero and postnatally. Despite the evidence, the impacts of n-3 PUFA deficiency on the expression of neurogenesis genes in the postnatal hippocampus remained elusive. Since postnatal brain development requires PUFAs via breast milk, we examined the fatty acid composition of breast milk and hippocampal expression of neurogenesis genes in n-3 PUFA deficient 21d mice. In addition, the expression of fatty acid desaturases, elongases, free fatty acids signaling receptors, insulin and leptin, and glucose transporters were measured. Among the genes involved in neurogenesis, the expression of brain-specific tenascin-R (TNR) was downregulated to a greater extent (∼31 fold), followed by adenosine A2A receptor (A2AAR), dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) expression in the n-3 PUFA deficient hippocampus. Increasing dietary LA to ALA (50:1) elevated the ARA to DHA ratio by ∼8 fold in the n-3 PUFA deficient breast milk, with an overall increase of total n-6/n-3 PUFAs by ∼15:1 (p<0.05) compared to n-3 PUFA sufficient (LA to ALA: 2:1) diet. The n-3 PUFA deficient mice exhibited upregulation of FADS1, FADS2, ELOVL2, ELOVL5, ELOVL6, GPR40, GPR120, LEPR, IGF1 and downregulation of GLUT1, GLUT3, and GLUT4 mRNA expression in hippocampus (p<0.05). Maternal n-3 PUFA deficiency affects the hippocampal expression of key neurogenesis genes in the offspring with concomitant expression of desaturase and elongase genes, suggesting the importance of dietary n-3 PUFA for neurodevelopment.

Operant training for highly palatable food alters translating mRNA in nucleus accumbens D2 neurons and reveals a modulatory role of Neurochondrin

BACKGROUND

Highly palatable food triggers behavioral alterations reminiscent of those induced by addictive drugs. These effects involve the reward system and dopamine neurons, which modulate neurons in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of highly palatable food on feeding behavior are poorly understood.

METHODS

We studied the effects of 2-week operant conditioning of mice with standard or isocaloric highly palatable food. We investigated the behavioral effects and dendritic spine modifications in the NAc. We compared the translating mRNA in NAc neurons identified by the type of dopamine receptors they express, depending on the type of food and training. We tested the consequences of invalidation of an abundant downregulated gene, Ncdn (Neurochondrin).

RESULTS

Operant conditioning for highly palatable food increases motivation for food even in well-fed mice. In control mice, free access to regular or highly palatable food results in increased weight as compared to regular food only. Highly palatable food increases spine density in the NAc. In animals trained for highly palatable food, translating mRNAs are modified in NAc dopamine D2-receptor-expressing neurons, mostly corresponding to striatal projection neurons, but not in those expressing D1-receptors. Knock-out of Ncdn, an abundant down-regulated gene, opposes the conditioning-induced changes in satiety-sensitive feeding behavior and apparent motivation for highly palatable food, suggesting down-regulation may be a compensatory mechanism.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results emphasize the importance of mRNA alterations D2 striatal projection neurons in the NAc in the behavioral consequences of highly palatable food conditioning and suggest a modulatory contribution of Ncdn downregulation.

Maternal PUFAs, Placental Epigenetics, and Their Relevance to Fetal Growth and Brain Development

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially omega-3 (n-3) and n-6 long-chain (LC) PUFAs, are indispensable for the fetus' brain supplied by the placenta. Despite being highly unsaturated, n-3 LCPUFA-docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plays a protective role as an antioxidant in the brain. Deficiency of DHA during fetal development may cause irreversible damages in neurodevelopment programming. Dietary PUFAs can impact placental structure and functions by regulating early placentation processes, such as angiogenesis. They promote remodeling of uteroplacental architecture to facilitate increased blood flow and surface area for nutrient exchange. The placenta's fatty acid transfer depends on the uteroplacental vascular development, ensuring adequate maternal circulatory fatty acids transport to fulfill the fetus' rapid growth and development requirements. Maternal n-3 PUFA deficiency predominantly leads to placental epigenetic changes than other fetal developing organs. A global shift in DNA methylation possibly transmits epigenetic instability in developing fetuses due to n-3 PUFA deficiency. Thus, an optimal level of maternal omega-3 (n-3) PUFAs may protect the placenta's structural and functional integrity and allow fetal growth by controlling the aberrant placental epigenetic changes. This narrative review summarizes the recent advances and underpins the roles of maternal PUFAs on the structure and functions of the placenta and their relevance to fetal growth and brain development.

The impact of lipid polyunsaturation on the physical and mechanical properties of lipid membranes

The lipid composition of cellular membranes and the balance between the different lipid components can be impacted by aging, certain pathologies, specific diets and other factors. This is the case in a subgroup of individuals with psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, where cell membranes of patients have been shown to be deprived in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), not only in brain areas where the target receptors are expressed but also in peripheral tissues. This PUFA deprivation thus represents a biomarker of such disorders that might impact not only the interaction of antipsychotic medications with these membranes but also the activation and signaling of the targeted receptors embedded in the lipid membrane. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how PUFAs levels alterations modulate the different physical properties of membranes. In this paper, several biophysical approaches were combined (Laurdan fluorescence spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, molecular modeling) to characterize membrane properties such as fluidity, elasticity and thickness in PUFA-enriched cell membranes and lipid model systems reflecting the PUFA imbalance observed in some diseases. The impact of both the number of unsaturations and their position along the chain on the above properties was investigated. Briefly, data revealed that PUFA presence in membranes increases membrane fluidity, elasticity and flexibility and decreases its thickness and order parameter. Both the level of unsaturation and their position affect these membrane properties.

Acute Stress-Induced Changes in the Lipid Composition of Cow's Milk in Healthy and Pathological Animals

Producers of milk and dairy products have been faced with the challenge of responding to European society's demand for guaranteed animal welfare production. In recent years, measures have been taken to improve animal welfare conditions on farms and evaluation systems have been developed to certify them, such as the Welfare Quality^® protocol. Among the markers used for this purpose, acute phase proteins stand out, with haptoglobin being one of the most relevant. However, the diagnostic power of these tools is limited and more sensitive and specific technologies are required to monitor animal health status. Different factors such as diet, stress, and diseases modify the metabolism of the animals, altering the composition of the milk in terms of oligosaccharides, proteins, and lipids. Thus, in order to study oxidative-stress-associated lipids, a collection of well-characterized milk samples, both by veterinary diagnosis and by content of the acute stress biomarker haptoglobin, was analyzed by mass spectrometry and artificial intelligence. Two lipid species (sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine) were identified as potential biomarkers of health status in dairy cows. Both lipids allow for the discrimination of milk from sick animals and also milk from those with stress. Moreover, lipidomics revealed specific lipid profiles depending on the origin of the samples and the degree of freedom of the animals on the farm. These data provide evidence for specific lipid changes in stressed animals and open up the possibility that haptoglobin could also affect lipid metabolism in cow's milk.

Higher stress response and altered quality of life in schizophrenia patients with low membrane levels of docosahexaenoic acid

Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic, and heterogeneous mental disorder that affects approximately 1% of the world population. Ongoing research aims at clustering schizophrenia heterogeneity into various "biotypes" to identify subgroups of individuals displaying homogeneous symptoms, etiopathogenesis, prognosis, and treatment response. The present study is in line with this approach and focuses on a biotype partly characterized by a specific membrane lipid composition. We have examined clinical and biological data of patients with stabilized schizophrenia, including the fatty acid content of their erythrocyte membranes, in particular the omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Two groups of patients of similar size were identified: the DHA- group (N = 19) with a lower proportion of membrane DHA as compared to the norm in the general population, and the DHAn group (N = 18) with a normal proportion of DHA. Compared to DHAn, DHA- patients had a higher number of hospitalizations and a lower quality of life in terms of perceived health and physical health. They also exhibited significant higher interleukin-6 and cortisol blood levels. These results emphasize the importance of measuring membrane lipid and immunoinflammatory biomarkers in stabilized patients to identify a specific subgroup and optimize non-pharmacological interventions. It could also guide future research aimed at proposing specific pharmacological treatments.

Glutathione in the nucleus accumbens regulates motivation to exert reward-incentivized effort

Emerging evidence is implicating mitochondrial function and metabolism in the nucleus accumbens in motivated performance. However, the brain is vulnerable to excessive oxidative insults resulting from neurometabolic processes, and whether antioxidant levels in the nucleus accumbens contribute to motivated performance is not known. Here, we identify a critical role for glutathione (GSH), the most important endogenous antioxidant in the brain, in motivation. Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at ultra-high field in both male humans and rodent populations, we establish that higher accumbal GSH levels are highly predictive of better, and particularly, steady performance over time in effort-related tasks. Causality was established in in vivo experiments in rats that, first, showed that downregulating GSH levels through micro-injections of the GSH synthesis inhibitor buthionine sulfoximine in the nucleus accumbens impaired effort-based reward-incentivized performance. In addition, systemic treatment with the GSH precursor N-acetyl-cysteine increased accumbal GSH levels in rats and led to improved performance, potentially mediated by a cell-type-specific shift in glutamatergic inputs to accumbal medium spiny neurons. Our data indicate a close association between accumbal GSH levels and an individual’s capacity to exert reward-incentivized effort over time. They also suggest that improvement of accumbal antioxidant function may be a feasible approach to boost motivation.

Associations of the Lipidome with Ageing, Cognitive Decline and Exercise Behaviours

One of the most recognisable features of ageing is a decline in brain health and cognitive dysfunction, which is associated with perturbations to regular lipid homeostasis. Although ageing is the largest risk factor for several neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, a loss in cognitive function is commonly observed in adults over the age of 65. Despite the prevalence of normal age-related cognitive decline, there is a lack of effective methods to improve the health of the ageing brain. In light of this, exercise has shown promise for positively influencing neurocognitive health and associated lipid profiles. This review summarises age-related changes in several lipid classes that are found in the brain, including fatty acyls, glycerolipids, phospholipids, sphingolipids and sterols, and explores the consequences of age-associated pathological cognitive decline on these lipid classes. Evidence of the positive effects of exercise on the affected lipid profiles are also discussed to highlight the potential for exercise to be used therapeutically to mitigate age-related changes to lipid metabolism and prevent cognitive decline in later life.

Role of the striatal dopamine, GABA and opioid systems in mediating feeding and fat intake

Food intake, which is a highly reinforcing behavior, provides nutrients required for survival in all animals. However, when fat and sugar consumption goes beyond the daily needs, it can favor obesity. The prevalence and severity of this health problem has been increasing with time. Besides covering nutrient and energy needs, food and in particular its highly palatable components, such as fats, also induce feelings of joy and pleasure. Experimental evidence supports a role of the striatal complex and of the mesolimbic dopamine system in both feeding and food-related reward processing, with the nucleus accumbens as a key target for reward or reinforcing-associated signaling during food intake behavior. In this review, we provide insights concerning the impact of feeding, including fat intake, on different types of receptors and neurotransmitters present in the striatal complex. Reciprocally, we also cover the evidence for a modulation of palatable food intake by different neurochemical systems in the striatal complex and in particular the nucleus accumbens, with a focus on dopamine, GABA and the opioid system.

N-3 PUFA deficiency disrupts oligodendrocyte maturation and myelin integrity during brain development

Westernization of dietary habits has led to a progressive reduction in dietary intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs). Low maternal intake of n-3 PUFAs has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, conditions in which myelination processes are abnormal, leading to defects in brain functional connectivity. Only little is known about the role of n-3 PUFAs in oligodendrocyte physiology and white matter development. Here, we show that lifelong n-3 PUFA deficiency disrupts oligodendrocytes maturation and myelination processes during the postnatal period in mice. This has long-term deleterious consequences on white matter organization and hippocampus-prefrontal functional connectivity in adults, associated with cognitive and emotional disorders. Promoting developmental myelination with clemastine, a first-generation histamine antagonist and enhancer of oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation, rescues memory deficits in n-3 PUFA deficient animals. Our findings identify a novel mechanism through which n-3 PUFA deficiency alters brain functions by disrupting oligodendrocyte maturation and brain myelination during the neurodevelopmental period.

Prevention of Stress-Induced Depressive-like Behavior by Saffron Extract Is Associated with Modulation of Kynurenine Pathway and Monoamine Neurotransmission

Depressive disorders are a major public health concern. Despite currently available treatment options, their prevalence steadily increases, and a high rate of therapeutic failure is often reported, together with important antidepressant-related side effects. This highlights the need to improve existing therapeutic strategies, including by using nutritional interventions. In that context, saffron recently received particular attention for its beneficial effects on mood, although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This study investigated in mice the impact of a saffron extract (Safr’Inside™; 6.25 mg/kg, per os) on acute restraint stress (ARS)-induced depressive-like behavior and related neurobiological alterations, by focusing on hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, inflammation-related metabolic pathways, and monoaminergic systems, all known to be altered by stress and involved in depressive disorder pathophysiology. When given before stress onset, Safr’Inside administration attenuated ARS-induced depressive-like behavior in the forced swim test. Importantly, it concomitantly reversed several stress-induced monoamine dysregulations and modulated the expression of key enzymes of the kynurenine pathway, likely reducing kynurenine-related neurotoxicity. These results show that saffron pretreatment prevents the development of stress-induced depressive symptoms and improves our understanding about the underlying mechanisms, which is a central issue to validate the therapeutic relevance of nutritional interventions with saffron in depressed patients.

Dietary lipids as regulators of reward processes: multimodal integration matters

The abundance of energy-dense and palatable diets in the modern food environment tightly contributes to the obesity pandemic. The reward circuit participates to the regulation of body homeostasis by integrating energy-related signals with neural substrates encoding cognitive and motivational components of feeding behaviors. Obesity and lipid-rich diets alter dopamine (DA) transmission leading to reward dysfunctions and food overconsumption. Recent reports indicate that dietary lipids can act, directly and indirectly, as functional modulators of the DA circuit. This raises the possibility that nutritional or genetic conditions affecting 'lipid sensing' mechanisms might lead to maladaptations of the DA system. Here, we discuss the most recent findings connecting dietary lipid sensing with DA signaling and its multimodal influence on circuits regulating food-reward processes.

Omega-3 nutraceuticals, climate change and threats to the environment: The cases of Antarctic krill and Calanus finmarchicus

The nutraceutical market for EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is promoting fishing for Euphasia superba (Antarctic krill) in the Southern Ocean and Calanus finmarchicus in Norwegian waters. This industry argues that these species are underexploited, but they are essential in their ecosystems, and climate change is altering their geographical distribution. In this perspective, we advocate the cessation of fishing for these species to produce nutraceuticals with EPA and DHA. We argue that this is possible because, contrary to what this industry promotes, the benefits of these fatty acids only seem significant to specific population groups, and not for the general population. Next, we explain that this is desirable because there is evidence that these fisheries may interact with the impact of climate change. Greener sources of EPA and DHA are already available on the market, and their reasonable use would ease pressure on the Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems.

Perinatal Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Brain Development, Role in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential fatty acids that are provided by dietary intake. Growing evidence suggests that n-3 and n-6 PUFAs are paramount for brain functions. They constitute crucial elements of cellular membranes, especially in the brain. They are the precursors of several metabolites with different effects on inflammation and neuron outgrowth. Overall, long-chain PUFAs accumulate in the offspring brain during the embryonic and post-natal periods. In this review, we discuss how they accumulate in the developing brain, considering the maternal dietary supply, the polymorphisms of genes involved in their metabolism, and the differences linked to gender. We also report the mechanisms linking their bioavailability in the developing brain, their transfer from the mother to the embryo through the placenta, and their role in brain development. In addition, data on the potential role of altered bioavailability of long-chain n-3 PUFAs in the etiologies of neurodevelopmental diseases, such as autism, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia, are reviewed.

Crosstalk between maternal perinatal obesity and offspring dopaminergic circuitry

The mechanism by which maternal obesity influences fetal brain development and behavior is not well understood. In this issue of the JCI, Lippert et al. showed that feeding maternal mice a high-fat diet (HFD) during lactation attenuated the activity of dopamine (DA) midbrain neurons and altered the DA-related behavioral phenotype seen in the offspring. The authors further suggested that the altered excitatory and inhibitory balance between D1 medium spiny neurons (MSN) and D2 MSN mediates this behavioral phenotype. These mechanisms may provide strategies for preventing the negative effects of maternal obesity on offspring development and adult health.

Characterization and modulation of brain lipids content of rainbow trout fed with 100% plant based diet rich in omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids DHA and EPA

Brain functions are known to be mainly modulated by adequate dietary intake. Inadequate intake as can be an excess or significant deficiency affect cognitive processes, behavior, neuroendocrine functions and synaptic plasticity with protective or harmful effects on neuronal physiology. Lipids, in particular, ω-6 and ω-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) play structural roles and govern the different functions of the brain. Hence, the goal of this study was to characterize the whole brain fatty acid composition (precursors, enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidation metabolites) of fish model of rainbow trout fed with three experimental plant-based diet containing distinct levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 ω-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 ω-3) (0% for low, 15.7% for medium and 33.4% for high, total fatty acid content) during nine weeks. Trout fed with the diet devoid of DHA and EPA showed reduced brain content of total ω-3 LC-PUFAs, with diminution of EPA and DHA. Selected enzymatic (cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases) oxidation metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4 ω-6) decrease in medium and high ω-3 LC-PUFAs diets. On the contrary, total selected enzymatic oxidation metabolites of DHA and EPA increased in high ω-3 LC-PUFAs diet. Total selected non-enzymatic oxidation metabolites of DHA (not detected for EPA) increased in medium and high ω-3 LC-PUFAs diets. In conclusion, this work revealed for the first time in fish model the presence of some selected enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidation metabolites in brain and the modulation of brain lipid content by dietary DHA and EPA levels.