Deficiency in dietary intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) negatively impacts cognitive and affective functioning. A plethora of psychopathology literature also implicates n-3 PUFA deficiency in psychiatric disorders, including mood disorders and schizophrenia. Thus, defining potential neuronal mechanisms that link n-3 PUFA levels to behavioral deficits has important implications for basic neuroscience, as well as for public health, given that the trend of the modern diet has been toward reduced n-3 PUFA intake. The overarching objective of this exploratory R21 application is to move a field, which is becoming increasingly relevant to mental health, forward from the phenomenological stage to delineating brain mechanisms. We propose to use a rodent model to gain mechanistic understanding of the impact of n-3 PUFA deficiency and supplementation on coordinated neuronal activity of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and ventral striatum (vStr) of adolescent rats. We have found subtle behavioral impairments in n-3 PUFA deficient adolescent rats, suggestive of disrupted motivational and attentional processing. Electrophysiological recordings of single unit activity and local field potentials (LFPs) in PFC subregions and vStr of behaviorally engaged adolescent rats will be made during a reward driven learning task to address two hypotheses: (1) n-3 PUFA deficiency disrupts the dynamics of neuronal activity in the PFC and ventral striatum in response to salient task relevant events, (2) These cellular disruptions are ameliorated with n-3 PUFA supplementation. It is anticipated that the results of these studies will increase our mechanistic understanding of the functional circuitry that influences the behavioral effects of n-3 PUFA deficiency and supplementation.

Public Health Relevance

Through the use of animal models and innovative methodology, this project will increase our mechanistic understanding of how omega -3 supplementation may serve as protective intervention in individuals with psychiatric disease vulnerability.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21MH097219-01
Application #
8288501
Study Section
Pathophysiological Basis of Mental Disorders and Addictions Study Section (PMDA)
Program Officer
Winsky, Lois M
Project Start
2012-02-16
Project End
2014-01-31
Budget Start
2012-02-16
Budget End
2013-01-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$187,830
Indirect Cost
$62,830
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Bondi, Corina O; Taha, Ameer Y; Tock, Jody L et al. (2014) Adolescent behavior and dopamine availability are uniquely sensitive to dietary omega-3 fatty acid deficiency. Biol Psychiatry 75:38-46