The effects of essential fatty acids on midbrain dopaminergic neurons and anxiety-related behaviors in mice

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20184
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University (2020-2021); Fukushima Medical University (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Sakayori Nobuyuki 広島大学, 医系科学研究科(歯), 助教 (30747457)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 多価不飽和脂肪酸 / 不安

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To reveal brain mechanism that consumption of an n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids-rich and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids-poor diet increases anxiety-related behaviors, we peformed histological and neurochemical analyses using mice. This study suggests that augmented midbrain dopamine system is one of the causes that increases anxiety-related behaviors in mice fed the n-6 fatty acid-rich and n-3 fatty acid-poor diet.

Free Research Field

栄養学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

多くの国々において、n-6多価不飽和脂肪酸を豊富に含む植物油などの摂取増加、およびn-3多価不飽和脂肪酸を豊富に含む魚などの摂取減少が進行しており、食中多価不飽和脂肪酸の高n-6 /低n-3化は世界的に深刻な問題となっている。このような食生活の変化が進行する現代社会において、本研究は不安症の発症リスクの低下と新規治療法の開発に向けて重要な基礎的知見を提供しうるものと期待される。