- 著者
-
酒寄 信幸
大隅 典子
- 出版者
- 日本脂質栄養学会
- 雑誌
- 脂質栄養学 (ISSN:13434594)
- 巻号頁・発行日
- vol.27, no.1, pp.14-20, 2018 (Released:2018-07-16)
Arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are the principal n-6 and
n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the brain, respectively, and essential
for proper brain development. Previous in vitro studies have revealed that ARA
induces astrocytic differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs), and that DHA induces
neuronal differentiation of NSCs. Thus, n-6 and n-3 PUFAs have different roles in
brain development. Regarding the evaluation of in vivo roles of these PUFAs, the
balance of n-6/n-3 PUFAs is considered to be important because these PUFAs compete
each other in their synthesis, metabolism, and transport. Indeed, we have reported
neurodevelopmental consequences of maternal consumption of an n-6-rich/n-3-poor diet
in mice. We found that epoxy metabolites of ARA and DHA oppositely regulated the
neurogenic-to-gliogenic fate transition of NSCs, and consequently they affected brain
development. These findings are scientifically and socially important, because intake
of seed oils, which are abundant in n-6 PUFAs, and that of fishes, which are abundant
in n-3 PUFAs, have recently been increased and decreased, respectively, in many
countries. In another study from our collaborators, a mouse model for schizophrenia
has been proposed based on phenotypes of offspring derived from pregnant mice fed a
PUFA-deficient diet. In the present review, we summarize the functions of dietary n-6
and n-3 PUFAs in brain development.