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Maternal DHA intake in mice increased DHA metabolites in the pup brain and ameliorated MeHg-induced behavioral disorder

Maternal DHA intake in mice increased DHA metabolites in the pup brain and ameliorated MeHg-induced behavioral disorder

Authors :
Ami Oguro
Taichi Fujiyama
Yasuhiro Ishihara
Chisato Kataoka
Megumi Yamamoto
Komyo Eto
Yoshihiro Komohara
Susumu Imaoka
Toshihide Sakuragi
Mayumi Tsuji
Eiji Shibata
Yaichiro Kotake
Takeshi Yamazaki
Source :
Journal of Lipid Research, Vol 64, Iss 11, Pp 100458- (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
Elsevier, 2023.

Abstract

Although pregnant women’s fish consumption is beneficial for the brain development of the fetus due to the DHA in fish, seafood also contains methylmercury (MeHg), which adversely affects fetal brain development. Epidemiological studies suggest that high DHA levels in pregnant women’s sera may protect the fetal brain from MeHg-induced neurotoxicity, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Our earlier study revealed that DHA and its metabolite 19,20-dihydroxydocosapentaenoic acid (19,20-DHDP) produced by cytochrome P450s (P450s) and soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) can suppress MeHg-induced cytotoxicity in mouse primary neuronal cells. In the present study, DHA supplementation to pregnant mice suppressed MeHg-induced impairments of pups’ body weight, grip strength, motor function, and short-term memory. DHA supplementation also suppressed MeHg-induced oxidative stress and the decrease in the number of subplate neurons in the cerebral cortex of the pups. DHA supplementation to dams significantly increased the DHA metabolites 19,20-epoxydocosapentaenoic acid (19,20-EDP) and 19,20-DHDP as well as DHA itself in the fetal and infant brains, although the expression levels of P450s and sEH were low in the fetal brain and liver. DHA metabolites were detected in the mouse breast milk and in human umbilical cord blood, indicating the active transfer of DHA metabolites from dams to pups. These results demonstrate that DHA supplementation increased DHA and its metabolites in the mouse pup brain and alleviated the effects of MeHg on fetal brain development. Pregnant women’s intake of fish containing high levels of DHA (or DHA supplementation) may help prevent MeHg-induced neurotoxicity in the fetus.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00222275 and 87163055
Volume :
64
Issue :
11
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Journal of Lipid Research
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.92ba8be57fa4b2ea88b871630551256
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100458