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Postnatal protein malnutrition affects play behavior and other social interactions in juvenile rats
1Laboratory of Nutrition and Behavior, FFCLRP, University of São Paulo, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, SP, 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. sebasalm@usp.br
Insights
Early protein malnutrition in juvenile rats significantly impairs playful social behaviors. Nutritional rehabilitation can reverse some effects, but playful behavior may remain altered, impacting adult social development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Postnatal nutrition is critical for brain development and subsequent behavior.
- Early life stress, including malnutrition, can have long-lasting effects on social interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of postnatal protein malnutrition on juvenile social behaviors in Wistar rats.
- To examine the effects of nutritional rehabilitation on these behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Wistar rat pups were fed either a 16% (control) or 6% (low protein) casein diet during lactation.
- Post-weaning, groups were maintained on their respective diets or switched to a control diet.
- Social behaviors (playful, nonplayful, nonsocial) were assessed in same-sex pairs up to 38 days of age.
Main Results:
- Protein malnutrition decreased playful social behavior (pin) and nonsocial behavior (rear).
- Nonplayful behaviors like side-mount and walk-over decreased, while anogenital sniff and allogroom increased.
- Nutritional rehabilitation reversed most changes, except for an increase in playful behavior.
Conclusions:
- Early protein malnutrition significantly alters juvenile social behavior in rats.
- Nutritional rehabilitation can partially restore social behaviors, but some effects, particularly on playful interactions, may persist.
- These juvenile behavioral changes may contribute to adult behavioral differences.
Abstract:
The effects of postnatal protein malnutrition on juvenile social behaviors were investigated in male and female Wistar rats. During the lactation period (21 days), each litter (six male and two female pups) was provided with 16% (control) or 6% (low protein) casein diets. At weaning, the control group (W) continued to receive the 16% protein diet and the malnourished group was divided into two groups: one continuing to receive a 6% protein diet (malnourished group - M) and the other shifted to a 16% protein diet (previously malnourished group - PM). These conditions lasted until 38 days of age when the behavioral tests ended. To assess social interaction, pairs of rats of the same nutritional condition and same gender were placed in a familiar arena for 3 consecutive days. Playful social behavior (pin), nonplayful social behavior (anogenital sniff, walk-over, side-mount and allogroom) and nonsocial behavior (rear) were recorded in three 10-min sessions. Postnatal protein malnutrition significantly decreased playful social behavior, nonsocial behavior (rear) and nonplayful social behaviors such as side-mount and walk-over. Anogenital sniff and allogroom were increased by early malnutrition. Nutritional rehabilitation from weaning reversed the changes produced by protein malnutrition in nonplayful (side-mount, walk-over, anogenital sniff and allogroom) and nonsocial behaviors (rear) but increased playful social behavior (pin). Gender effects were observed only on side-mount (higher incidence in males) and walk-over (higher incidence in females) indicating that playful behavior and nonsocial behavior were not affected by sex. The present results suggest that behavioral differences described in adulthood may result from changes in social behaviors of juvenile rats induced by early protein malnutrition.