Nutritional (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids influence the behavioral responses to positive events in mice

The effect of (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) diet deficiency on behavioural responses to appetitive events was assessed in OF1 mice. Pups fed the same diet (deficient in alpha-linolenic acid or a standard control diet) as their dams were used aged 7 to 11 weeks. In a free choice model, the preference for a sucrose solution in both males and females was significantly lower in deficient than in control mice. Morphine conditioned place preference was obtained with the two diets at 8 and 16 mg/kg morphine, but the lower dose of 4 mg/kg induced a place preference in control but not in (n-3) deficient mice. Taken together, these results suggest that a nutritional (n-3) PUFA deficiency can alter the responsiveness to appetitive events.