# Long-Term Fish Oil Supplementation Attenuates Spike Wave Discharges in the Amygdala of Adult Rats with Early-Life Febrile Seizures

## TL;DR

Long-term fish oil supplementation reduces abnormal brain activity in adult rats that had seizures as pups.

## Contribution

Fish oil reduces spike wave discharges in the amygdala of rats with early-life febrile seizures.

## Key findings

- Fish oil group had shorter spike wave discharges in the amygdala EEG.
- Fish oil reduced behavioral effects and seizure amplitude in adult rats.
- Fish oil-fed rats showed lower absolute power in EEG compared to controls.

## Abstract

Background and Objectives: Febrile seizures (FS) are neuronal disturbances frequently associated with abnormal electroencephalographic activity (EEG) as spike-wave discharges (SWDs). Fish oil (FO) has high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids (θ-3), and its effects on FS alterations are poorly understood. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of long-term FO supplementation on the EEG of the amygdala of adult male rats with early-life FS. Materials and Methods: Progenitor female Wistar rats, from puberty to gestation and delivery, were fed daily with a commercial diet supplemented with either fish oil (FO), palm oil (PO), or deionized water (CTRL). After parturition, male pups were exposed for 30 min to hyperthermia (HP) and then returned to their dams. After weaning, pups were fed a commercial diet and the respective treatments up to 155 days of age when electrodes were implanted in the amygdala. Results: During early life HP, the PO and CTRL groups reached maximal core temperature (CT) in comparison with the FO group. Furthermore, the FO group only has fewer myoclonus and long latency to adopt an uncontrolled posture. At an adult age, the FO group with early-life FS scored shorter periods of SWDs in amygdala EEG but without seizures and presented minor values of absolute power than the PO and CTRL groups. Conclusions: In adult rats, the long-term supplementation of FO minimizes the deleterious behavioral effects caused by early-life FS and decreases the occurrence and amplitude of SWDs in the EEG of the amygdala.