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Early supplementation of phospholipids and gangliosides affects brain and cognitive development in neonatal piglets
Hongnan Liu1, Emily C Radlowski2, Matthew S Conrad3
1Department of Animal Sciences, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China.
Insights
Dietary phospholipids and gangliosides enhanced spatial learning and brain development in piglets. Supplementation improved maze performance and increased brain weight and gray and white matter volume.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Human breast milk contains phospholipids and gangliosides, linked to improved infant learning.
- The role of these dietary components in brain development warrants investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of dietary phospholipids and gangliosides on brain and cognitive development in neonatal piglets.
Main Methods:
- Piglets were fed formula with varying levels of a phospholipid/ganglioside supplement (Lacprodan PL-20) from postnatal day 2 to 28.
- Cognitive function was assessed using a spatial T-maze task, and brain development was analyzed via MRI and hippocampal tissue metabolic profiling.
Main Results:
- Supplementation with phospholipids and gangliosides improved spatial learning, reducing errors and decision time in the T-maze task.
- Piglets receiving the supplement showed increased brain weight and greater volumes in multiple brain areas, including enhanced gray and white matter.
- Metabolic profiling indicated alterations in phosphatidylcholine-related metabolites within the hippocampus.
Conclusions:
- Dietary phospholipids and gangliosides positively impacted spatial learning in neonatal piglets.
- Supplementation influenced brain growth, composition, and related metabolic pathways.
Background:
Because human breast milk is a rich source of phospholipids and gangliosides and breastfed infants have improved learning compared with formula-fed infants, the importance of dietary phospholipids and gangliosides for brain development is of interest.
Objective:
We sought to determine the effects of phospholipids and gangliosides on brain and cognitive development.
Methods:
Male and female piglets from multiple litters were artificially reared and fed formula containing 0% (control), 0.8%, or 2.5% Lacprodan PL-20 (PL-20; Arla Foods Ingredients), a phospholipid/ganglioside supplement, from postnatal day (PD) 2 to PD28. Beginning on PD14, performance in a spatial T-maze task was assessed. At PD28, brain MRI data were acquired and piglets were killed to obtain hippocampal tissue for metabolic profiling.
Results:
Diet affected maze performance, with piglets that were fed 0.8% and 2.5% PL-20 making fewer errors than control piglets (80% vs. 75% correct on average; P < 0.05) and taking less time to make a choice (3 vs. 5 s/trial; P < 0.01). Mean brain weight was 5% higher for piglets fed 0.8% and 2.5% PL-20 (P < 0.05) than control piglets, and voxel-based morphometry revealed multiple brain areas with greater volumes and more gray and white matter in piglets fed 0.8% and 2.5% PL-20 than in control piglets. Metabolic profiling of hippocampal tissue revealed that multiple phosphatidylcholine-related metabolites were altered by diet.
Conclusion:
In summary, dietary phospholipids and gangliosides improved spatial learning and affected brain growth and composition in neonatal piglets.
