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Updated: Jun 11, 2026
Neurodevelopmental Reflex Testing in Neonatal Rat Pups
Published on: April 24, 2017
Effects of maternal food restriction on physical growth and neurobehavior in newborn Wistar rats
Yinguo Zhang1, Ning Li, Jiajia Yang
1College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China.
Insights
Maternal undernutrition in rats significantly delayed physical growth and neurobehavior in both male and female pups. This highlights the critical impact of maternal diet on offspring development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Maternal nutrition is crucial for offspring development.
- Undernutrition during gestation can have lasting effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of maternal food restriction on physical growth and neurobehavior in rat pups.
- To compare effects in male and female offspring.
Main Methods:
- Induced maternal 50% food restriction (FR50) in Wistar rats.
- Assessed physical growth milestones (e.g., eye opening, hair growth).
- Evaluated neurobehavioral reflexes (e.g., righting reflex, cliff avoidance).
Main Results:
- FR50 pups exhibited delayed physical growth compared to controls.
- Both sexes showed delays in neurobehavioral reflexes.
- Male FR50 pups had a delayed negative geotaxis response.
Conclusions:
- Maternal undernutrition causes significant neurodevelopmental delays in rat pups.
- These findings provide insights into the effects of undernutrition on human fetal and neonatal development.
Abstract:
Maternal nutrition plays a critical role in physical growth and neurobehavior of offspring. The aim of this study was to assess the nature of maternal undernutrition on the physical growth and neurobehavior of newborn male and female rat pups. To attain this aim, a model of maternal 50% food restriction (FR50) was induced in Wistar rats. After parturition, the physical growth and neurobehavior were tested in male and female pups. Compared with gender-matched controls, both male and female FR50 pups showed delayed physical growth, such as pinna detachment, hair growth, eruption of incisor teeth and eye opening. Also, they showed a delay of neurobehavior in surface righting reflex and cliff avoidance reflex. In addition, FR50 male pups exhibited a delay in achieving negative geotaxis response compared to normal male pups. These data obtained are useful to provide baseline information about the neurodevelopmental delay of maternal undernutrition of both sexes in rat pups and help to gain a better understanding of undernutrition during human fetal and neonatal periods.
