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Chronic administration of phosphatidylserine during ontogeny enhances subject-environment interactions and radial
M Ammassari-Teule1, S Fagioli, M Maritati
1Istituto di Psicobiologia e Psicofarmacologia, CNR, Roma, Italy.
Insights
Bovine brain phospholipid phosphatidylserine (BC-PS) supplementation from birth improved cognitive abilities in mice. Treated mice showed enhanced environmental interaction and adaptive learning strategies in adulthood.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Phosphatidylserine is a crucial phospholipid for neuronal membranes.
- Early life nutrition can impact long-term cognitive development.
- Bovine brain extract is a source of phosphatidylserine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term behavioral and cognitive effects of early-life exposure to bovine brain phospholipid phosphatidylserine (BC-PS).
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving mice exposed to BC-PS from birth to 60 days.
- Behavioral assessments included open field tests, novel object interaction, and an eight-arm radial maze.
- Evaluated body weight and sensorimotor reflexes in early development.
Main Results:
- No significant effects on body weight or sensorimotor reflexes were observed.
- Mice treated with BC-PS exhibited increased interaction with their environment, especially with novel objects.
- Adult treated mice demonstrated higher choice accuracy and more adaptive strategies in the radial maze.
Conclusions:
- Early-life exposure to BC-PS stimulates subject-environment interactions during development.
- This stimulation underlies enhanced cognitive abilities observed in adulthood.
- BC-PS may be a beneficial supplement for cognitive development.
Abstract:
A longitudinal behavioral study was performed in mice exposed to the bovine brain phospholipid phosphatidylserine (BC-PS) from birth until sixty days. Examination of treated and control pups revealed no effect of the treatment on body weight nor on sensorimotor reflexes. At one and two months of age, when placed in an open field and, particularly, in the presence of a novel object, treated mice were found more interactive with their environment than control mice. Finally, when submitted to a radial eight-arm maze problem, choice accuracy was higher and maze-running strategies more adaptive in treated than in control adult mice. These results suggest a stimulating effect of the treatment on subject-environment interactions during ontogeny underlying improved cognitive abilities in adulthood.