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Dietary Intervention with Omega-3 Fatty Acids Mitigates Maternal High-Fat Diet-Induced Behavioral and Myelin-Related Alterations in Adult Offspring.

Current neuropharmacology
May 5, 2025
Joanna Jastrzebska et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleAnimal Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine if an omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diet could reverse depression-like behavior and myelin-related changes in rat offspring caused by maternal high-fat diet exposure.

Results Summary

Omega-3 supplementation reversed depressive-like behavior and normalized myelin-related protein expression and oligodendrocyte populations in the prefrontal cortex, with stronger effects in males than females.

Population

Rat offspring exposed to maternal high-fat diet during pregnancy and lactation.

Effective Dosage

Not specified (60% energy from fat in maternal diet; omega-3 diet composition not detailed).

Duration

From post-weaning until adulthood (63rd day of life).

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (10)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
maternal high-fat diet (HFD) during pregnancy and lactation
increase
depression-like phenotype
rat offspring
-
induces
#1
maternal high-fat diet (HFD) during pregnancy and lactation
increase
myelin-related changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFCTX)
rat offspring
-
provokes
#2
omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diet (Ω3D) given from the postweaning period until adulthood
decrease
increased immobility time
adult offspring
-
reversed
#3
omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diet (Ω3D) given from the postweaning period until adulthood
increase
reduced expression levels of myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)
adult offspring
-
normalized
#4
omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diet (Ω3D) given from the postweaning period until adulthood
increase
reduced expression levels of myelin and lymphocyte protein (MAL)
males
-
normalized
#5
omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diet (Ω3D) given from the postweaning period until adulthood
increase
reduced expression levels of myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)
females
-
normalized
#6
omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diet (Ω3D) given from the postweaning period until adulthood
increase
quantity of oligodendrocyte precursor cells
males
-
normalized
#7
omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diet (Ω3D) given from the postweaning period until adulthood
increase
quantity of mature oligodendrocytes
males
-
normalized
#8
omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diet (Ω3D) given from the postweaning period until adulthood
increase
quantity of oligodendrocyte precursors
females
-
normalized
#9
maternal high-fat diet (HFD) exposure
decrease
quantity of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and mature oligodendrocytes in the prelimbic, infralimbic, and cingulate cortex
males
-
reduced
#10
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) during pregnancy and lactation induces depression- like phenotype and provokes myelin-related changes in rat offspring in the prefrontal cortex (PFCTX), which persist even to adulthood. OBJECTIVE: Due to the plasticity of the developing brain, it was decided to analyze whether depressionlike phenotype and myelin-related changes in the early lifetime induced by maternal HFD (60% energy from fat) could be reversed by the omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diet (Ω3D) given from the postweaning period until adulthood (63rd day of life) in offspring. METHODS: We analyzed the effect of post-weaning Ω3D on the depressive-like phenotype (assessed by the forced swimming test) and myelin-related changes (measured using RT-qPCR, ELISA, and immunofluorescence staining) in the PFCTX of adult offspring. RESULTS: Ω3D reversed increased immobility time in adult offspring induced by maternal HFD, without affecting the animals' locomotor activity. Molecularly, Ω3D normalized the reduced expression levels of myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), as well as myelin and lymphocyte protein (MAL) in males and MOG in females in the PFCTX, changes initially induced by maternal HFD. Additionally, Ω3D normalized the quantity of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and mature oligodendrocytes in the prelimbic, infralimbic, and cingulate cortex in males, which were reduced following maternal HFD exposure. In females, the Ω3D effect was less pronounced, with normalization of oligodendrocyte precursors occurring only in the infralimbic cortex. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Ω3D may play a significant role in correcting behavioral and neurobiological changes caused by adverse prenatal conditions.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnimalsFatty Acids, Omega-3FemaleDiet, High-FatPregnancyMalePrenatal Exposure Delayed EffectsMyelin SheathPrefrontal CortexRats, WistarRatsDepressionBehavior, AnimalMyelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality78/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score1.28
Normalized Score0.70
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