Vulnerability of the nucleus accumbens neuronal network to developmental n-3 PUFA deficiency: consequences on the reward and motivation system

National audience; Various, though distinct psychiatric disorders, such as Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression are associated with a dysfunction of the reward system linked to an alteration of dopamine transmission. Furthermore, these pathologies are also accompanied by changes in lipid metabolism and in particular a decrease in the brain content n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the nervous system. However, the implication of brain lipid composition in the etiology of psychiatric endophenotypes has been overlooked. The aim of this study was to investigate a potential causal link between n-3 PUFA deficiency and deficits in reward processing. Using operant conditioning…