Pathological mechanism

Data

Name DHA increases dendritic spines and synapses; enhanced by uridine and choline

Description

Hypothesis Dendritic Spine Hypothesis Show Other

Extracelular pathological element Oral docosahexanoic acid (DHA) Show Other

Intracelular pathological element

Pathological action Increases Show Other

Process Dendritic spine density Show Other

Process action

Transmitter(s)

Receptor(s)

Channel(s)

Pharmacological Agent Choline Show Other Uridine Show Other

Pharmacological Action Increases Show Other

Brain region

Neuron

Cell model Golgi impregnation - Animal post-mortem brains Show Other

Cellular compartment

PubMed ID 18631994

Citation

AlzWeb

Notes DHA also affects synaptic transmission in mammalian brain. Brain cells of gerbils or rats receiving this fatty acid manifest increased levels of phosphatides and of specific presynaptic or postsynaptic proteins. They also exhibit increased numbers of dendritic spines on postsynaptic neurons. These actions are markedly enhanced in animals that have also received the other two circulating precursors for phosphatidylcholine, uridine (which gives rise to brain uridine diphosphate and cytidine triphosphate) and choline (which gives rise to phosphocholine). Cansev, M., Wurtman, R. J., Sakamoto, T., & Ulus, I. H. (2008). Oral administration of circulating precursors for membrane phosphatides can promote the synthesis of new brain synapses. Alzheimer's & Dementia : the Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 4(1 Suppl 1), S153-S168.

Pathology

Stage

Question

Claim Loss/alteration of dendritic spines in early Alzheimer's Show Other