QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Online Supplemental Material Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lavialle, M. Articles by Denis, I. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lavialle, M. Articles by Denis, I.

---

Ingestive Behavior and Neurosciences

An (n-3) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid–Deficient Diet Disturbs Daily Locomotor Activity, Melatonin Rhythm, and Striatal Dopamine in Syrian Hamsters^1–3,

⁴ INRA, UR 909 Nutrition et Régulation Lipidique des Fonctions Cérébrales, F-78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France; ⁵ INSERM, U513 Neurobiologie et Psychiatrie, Université P & M Curie, F-75252 Paris 3, France; and ⁶ Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Département de Neurobiologie des Rythmes, UMR 7168/LC2 CNRS-Université L. Pasteur, F-67000 Strasbourg, France

Several studies suggest that (n-3) PUFA may play a role in the regulation of cognitive functions, locomotor and exploratory activity, and affective disorders. Additionally, (n-3) PUFA affect pineal function, which is implicated in the sleep-wake rhythm. However, no studies to our knowledge have explored the role of PUFA on the circadian system. We investigated the effect of an (n-3) PUFA-deficient diet on locomotor and pineal melatonin rhythms in Syrian hamsters used as model species in circadian rhythm research. To assess the possible relationship between voluntary wheel running activity and dopaminergic neurotransmission, we also measured endogenous monoamine concentrations in the striatum. Two-month-old male hamsters, fed either an (n-3) PUFA-deficient or an (n-3) PUFA-adequate diet, were housed individually in cages equipped with run wheels. At 3 mo, cerebral structures were extracted for biochemical and cellular analysis. In (n-3) PUFA-deficient hamsters, the induced changes in the pineal PUFA membrane phospholipid composition were associated with a reduction in the nocturnal peak level of melatonin that was 52% lower than in control hamsters (P < 0.001). The (n-3) PUFA-deficient hamsters also had higher diurnal (P < 0.01) and nocturnal (P = 0.001) locomotor activity than the control hamsters, in parallel with activation of striatal dopaminergic function (P < 0.05). The (n-3) PUFA-deficient hamsters exhibited several symptoms: chronic locomotor hyperactivity, disturbance in melatonin rhythm, and striatal hyperdopaminergia. We suggest that an (n-3) PUFA-deficient diet lessens the melatonin rhythm, weakens endogenous functioning of the circadian clock, and plays a role in nocturnal sleep disturbances as described in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: monique.lavialle{at}jouy.inra.fr.

Manuscript received 13 March 2008. Initial review completed 12 May 2008. Revision accepted 17 June 2008.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Mendoza, P. Pevet, and E. Challet High-fat feeding alters the clock synchronization to light J. Physiol., December 15, 2008; 586(24): 5901 - 5910. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]