DHA improves cognition and prevents dysfunction of entorhinal cortex neurons in 3xTg-AD mice

PLoS One. 2011 Feb 23;6(2):e17397. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017397.

Abstract

Defects in neuronal activity of the entorhinal cortex (EC) are suspected to underlie the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Whereas neuroprotective effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been described, the effects of DHA on the physiology of EC neurons remain unexplored in animal models of AD. Here, we show that DHA consumption improved object recognition (↑12%), preventing deficits observed in old 3xTg-AD mice (↓12%). Moreover, 3xTg-AD mice displayed seizure-like akinetic episodes, not detected in NonTg littermates and partly prevented by DHA (↓50%). Patch-clamp recording revealed that 3xTg-AD EC neurons displayed (i) loss of cell capacitance (CC), suggesting reduced membrane surface area; (ii) increase of firing rate versus injected current (F-I) curve associated with modified action potentials, and (iii) overactivation of glutamatergic synapses, without changes in synaptophysin levels. DHA consumption increased CC (↑12%) and decreased F-I slopes (↓21%), thereby preventing the opposite alterations observed in 3xTg-AD mice. Our results indicate that cognitive performance and basic physiology of EC neurons depend on DHA intake in a mouse model of AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology*
  • Alzheimer Disease / prevention & control
  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acid / analysis
  • Arachidonic Acid / metabolism
  • Brain Chemistry
  • Cognition / drug effects*
  • Cognition Disorders / genetics
  • Cognition Disorders / pathology
  • Cognition Disorders / physiopathology
  • Cognition Disorders / prevention & control*
  • Cytoprotection / drug effects
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Entorhinal Cortex / chemistry
  • Entorhinal Cortex / drug effects*
  • Entorhinal Cortex / metabolism
  • Entorhinal Cortex / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neurons / chemistry
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Osmolar Concentration

Substances

  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Arachidonic Acid