Unique Dragonfly Hunting Strategies and Exceptionally High Eicosapentaenoic Acid Levels in Brain Lipids: Is There a Link?

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6ω3) and, to a much lesserextent, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5ω3) are the main long-chainomega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in mammalian brain phospholipids.A huge number of studies conducted in recent years indicate theimportant role of omega-3 PUFAs in the regulation of behavior, memory,mental and cognitive development in humans and animals. DHA andEPA are essential for neuro- and synaptogenesis, neural networkformation, stimulation of neurotrophic factor production, neuronaland synaptic plasticity. Omega-3 PUFA deficiency leads to a decreasein spatial memory, cognitive development, learning ability, visual impairment,and psychomotor functions. In the context of modern concepts onthe role of omega-3 PUFAs in cognitive processes, the author discussesher previously published data on a sharp increase in brain phospholipidEPA levels in the adult dragonfly Aeschnagrandis L. compared to its larvae in an attempt to linkthis phenomenon to a significant complication of behavior in adultdragonflies and the development of their highly effective pursuitand visual processing strategies.