Postnatal patterns of fatty acids in brain of progeny from vitamin B-6 deficient rats before and after pyridoxine supplementation.

The influence of deficient and adequate maternal intakes of pyridoxine on fatty acid profiles in brains of progeny at 5, 10, and 15 days of age was studied. The effects of two different times of initiating rehabilitation of deficient dams on the brain development of progeny at 5, 10, 15, 25, and 50 days of age were also examined. Three groups of weanling, female rats were fed diets deficient in pyridoxine (1.2 mg pyridoxine-HC1/kg diet) and a fourth group received a control diet (30.0 mg pyridoxine-HC1/kg diet) throughout growth, gestation and until 5 and 10 days postpartum. Supplementation with 30.0 mg pyridoxine-HC1/kg was begun in two deficient groups at 5 and 10 days postpartum. Fatty acids C18:2, C20:4, and C22:6 in cerebellum were significantly lower in brains of 15 day-old pups from unsupplemented deficient dams compared to values for pups of control dams. Significant reductions in the omega6 fatty acids (C18:2, C20:4, and C22:4) were evident in cerebellum of 15 day-old progeny of unsupplemented deficient dams. Fatty acids C20:1 and C24:0 were not detectable in cerebellum or cerebrum of the deficient group at 15 days but were evident in other groups. Supplementation of deficient dams with vitamin B-6 at 5 and 10 days postpartum prevented the reduction of omega6 fatty acids found in deficient progeny.