Essential fatty acid deficiency: effects of cross-fostering mice at birth on brain growth and myelination
Berkow, S.E.; Campagnoni, A.T.
Journal of Nutrition 111(5): 886-894
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 7229737 Document Number: 170974
The effects of brain development of cross-fostering mice at birth from essential fatty acid (EFA)-deficient to EFA-sufficient diets and vice versa were examined. Four groups of animals were studied: [C], animals reared on an EFA-sufficient diet throughout pre- and postnatal life; [D], animals reared on an EFA-deficient diet through pre- and postnatal life; [C .fwdarw. D], animals receiving an EFA-sufficient diet prenatally and cross-fostered to an EFA-deficient diet at birth; and [D .fwdarw. C], animals receiving an EFA-deficient diet prenatally and cross-fostered to an EFA-sufficient diet at birth. Indices of brain growth (i.e., wet weight, DNA and protein content) and myelination (brain proteolipid and galactolipid content) were measured on animals ranging in age from 0-9 wk in the 4 experimental groups. Essentially no differences were observed in any of the brain growth or myelination parameters on pups in the [D] or [C .fwdarw. D] groups. In almost all cases the developmental curves of the 2 groups were superimposable. In contrast, the developmental curves of the [D .fwdarw. C] animals were not superimposable on the control curves. A pronounced time lag of almost 6 wk was observed before their body and brain weights attained control levels. The brain protein and DNA levels in the [D .fwdarw. C] group still did not reach control values by 9 wk. Studies on the myelination parameters indicated that brain proteolipid accumulation in animals in the [D .fwdarw. C] group appeared to be unaffected by prenatal EFA deficiency, but galactolipid content remained below control values throughout the course of the study. Mice rehabilitated from EFA-deficient to EFA-sufficient diets at birth may possess abnormal myelin for at least 2 mo. during a period of rapid brain maturation.