Abstract
There is limited information on the specific effects of long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) on neuron development and functioning. Deficiency of those essential fatty acids impairs escape and avoidance behaviour in fish, where Mauthner cells (M-cells) play a particularly important role in initiating this response. Gilthead seabream larvae fed two different LCPUFA profiles were challenged with a sonorous stimulus. Feeding n-3 LCPUFA increased the content of these fatty acids in fish tissues and caused a higher number of larvae to react to the stimulus with a faster burst swimming speed response. This faster startle response in fish fed n-3 LCPUFA was also associated with an increased immune-positive neural response, particularly in M-cells, denoting a higher production of acetylcholine. The present study shows the first evidence of the effect of n-3 LCPUFA on the functioning of particular neurons in fish, the M-cells and the behaviour response that they modulate to escape from a sound stimulus.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Acetylcholine / metabolism
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Animals
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Choline O-Acetyltransferase / metabolism
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Cholinergic Neurons / cytology
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Cholinergic Neurons / physiology
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Deficiency Diseases / pathology
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Deficiency Diseases / physiopathology
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Deficiency Diseases / prevention & control
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Deficiency Diseases / veterinary
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Escape Reaction*
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Fatty Acids, Essential / administration & dosage
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Fatty Acids, Essential / deficiency
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Fatty Acids, Essential / therapeutic use
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Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage*
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Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism
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Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / therapeutic use
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Fish Diseases / pathology
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Fish Diseases / physiopathology
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Fish Diseases / prevention & control
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Fish Oils / administration & dosage
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Fish Oils / therapeutic use
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Fish Proteins / metabolism
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Metencephalon / cytology
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Metencephalon / growth & development
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Metencephalon / physiology*
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Metencephalon / physiopathology
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Muscle, Skeletal / growth & development
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Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
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Neurogenesis
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / pathology
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Neurons / physiology*
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Random Allocation
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Reflex, Startle
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Sea Bream / growth & development
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Sea Bream / physiology*
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Soybean Oil / administration & dosage
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Soybean Oil / adverse effects
Substances
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Fatty Acids, Essential
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Fatty Acids, Omega-3
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Fish Oils
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Fish Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Soybean Oil
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Choline O-Acetyltransferase
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Acetylcholine