Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Cognitive Functions and Neural Substrates: A Voxel-Based Morphometry Study in Aged Mice

摘要: Human and experimental studies have revealed putative neuroprotective pro-cognitive effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in aging, evidencing positive correlations between peripheral n-3 PUFA levels regional grey matter (GM) volume, as well negative dietary cognitive deficits. We recently showed that supplemented aged mice exhibit better hippocampal-dependent mnesic functions, along with enhanced cellular plasticity reduced neurodegeneration, thus supporting a role supplementation preventing decline during aging. To corroborate these initial results develop new evidence on the brain substrates at macro-scale level, here we expanded behavioral analyses to emotional domain (anxiety coping skills), carried out fine-grained GM volumetric mapping by using high-resolution MRI-based voxel-based morphometry. The 8 week were measured (discriminative, spatial social) coping) abilities (19 month-old onset study) C57B6/J mice. performances increased active skills. Importantly, associated enlarged hippocampal, retrosplenial prefrontal volumes, post mortem levels. These findings indicate intake normal aging can improve fronto-hippocampal structure function, an effect present also when starts late age. Our data are consistent protective counteracting decline, dysfunctions atrophy.