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Updated: Apr 15, 2026
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
Flaxseed mitigates brain mass loss, improving motor hyperactivity and spatial memory, in a rodent model of neonatal
Daniela de Barros Mucci1, Flávia Spreafico Fernandes1, Amanda Dos Santos Souza2
1Laboratório de Bioquímica Nutricional, Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro , RJ, Brazil.
Insights
Maternal flaxseed intake, rich in alpha-linolenic acid, improved brain injury and cognitive deficits in offspring following hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. This dietary intervention also reduced depressive behaviors in young male rats.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy is a significant cause of perinatal brain injury and mortality.
- n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), show promise in attenuating brain damage.
- Flaxseed is a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a precursor to DHA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neuroprotective potential of maternal flaxseed consumption on offspring subjected to perinatal HI.
- To assess the impact of flaxseed on brain DHA content, cognitive function, and behavior in the context of HI-induced encephalopathy.
Main Methods:
- Wistar rats were assigned to six groups based on maternal diet (control or flaxseed) and offspring treatment (HI, sham, or control).
- Offspring were assessed for brain mass, motor activity, spatial memory, and depressive behavior.
- Hippocampal DHA content was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Maternal flaxseed diet increased offspring hippocampal DHA levels.
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy pups exhibited reduced brain mass, hyperactivity, and impaired spatial memory.
- Flaxseed intake in HI offspring (FHI group) improved these deficits and lowered depressive behavior.
Conclusions:
- Maternal flaxseed consumption confers neuroprotective effects against perinatal HI.
- This dietary strategy may prevent depressive symptoms and mitigate cognitive and behavioral impairments associated with neonatal brain injury.
- Flaxseed-derived ALA conversion to DHA is a potential mechanism for these beneficial outcomes.
Abstract:
Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy is a major cause of perinatal morbimortality. There is growing evidence that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), attenuate brain injury. This study aimed to investigate the possible neuroprotective effect of maternal intake of flaxseed, rich in DHA׳s precursor α-linolenic acid, in the young male offspring subjected to perinatal HI. Wistar rats were divided in six groups, according to maternal diet and offspring treatment at day 7: Control HI (CHI) and Flaxseed HI (FHI); Control Sham and Flaxseed Sham; Control Control and Flaxseed Control. Flaxseed diet increased offspring׳s hippocampal DHA content and lowered depressive behavior. CHI pups presented brain mass loss, motor hyperactivity and poor spatial memory, which were improved in FHI rats. Maternal flaxseed intake may prevent depressive symptoms in the offspring and promote neuroprotective effects, in the context of perinatal HI, improving brain injury and its cognitive and behavioral impairments.
