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Behavioral effects of an intrauterine or neonatal diabetic environment in the rat
B Johansson1, B Meyerson, U J Eriksson
1Department of Medical Pharmacology, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
Insights
Maternal diabetes in rats did not cause lasting psychoneurological effects on offspring behavior. Early life exposure to a diabetic environment did not alter infant or adult rat behaviors long-term.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Maternal diabetes during pregnancy is a risk factor for adverse offspring neurodevelopment.
- Understanding the long-term behavioral impacts of intrauterine or neonatal diabetic exposure is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of intrauterine or neonatal exposure to a diabetic environment on rat offspring behavior during infancy and adulthood.
Main Methods:
- Offspring from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were compared to control offspring.
- Behavioral assessments included ultrasound calls in infancy and exploratory behaviors (sniffing, rearing) in neonates and adults.
Main Results:
- Neonatal streptozotocin-treated rats showed increased ultrasound calls at days 4 and 6.
- Neonatally treated rats exhibited diminished sniffing and rearing intensity.
- No significant behavioral differences were observed in adult rats exposed to a diabetic environment.
Conclusions:
- Early embryonic or neonatal exposure to a diabetic environment in rats does not appear to cause lasting psychoneurological deficits.
- Basic behavioral patterns in rats develop largely normally despite early diabetic exposure.
Abstract:
Maternal diabetes during pregnancy may cause lasting effects on the psychoneurological development in the offspring. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible effects of an intrauterine or neonatal exposure to a diabetic environment on behavior during infancy and adulthood. On days 4 and 6 of age, offspring of streptozotocin-diabetic rats emitted higher numbers of ultrasound calls compared to control offspring. Neonatally streptozotocin-treated rats explored their environment by diminished sniffing and rearing intensity compared to control rats. However, in adult life neither of these rat groups displayed behavioral differences compared to their respective control group. The results suggest that development of basic behavioral patterns in the rat proceed almost normally despite exposure to a diabetic environment in the early embryonic period or in early infancy.