Executive functions of postweaning protein malnutrition in mice

It is well known that nutritional status during the fetal and/or lactation period is important for the development of the central nervous system (CNS). In contrast, the effect of malnutrition on postweaning development has not yet been thoroughly investigated. In the present study, we analyzed the behavioral and neuroanatomical effects of protein malnutrition (PM) postweaning in mice. Starting at 20-21 d of age, male ddY mice were maintained on a 5% casein diet (PM group) or 20% casein diet (control group) for 20 d. On the 20th d, body and brain weights of PM mice were lower than those of the control group. PM mice exhibited excessive alertness and spontaneous activity under novel conditions in the Irwin test. In addition, PM mice showed increased open arm exploration in the elevated plus maze compared to control mice. These results suggest that hyperactivity and reduced anxiety behavior or higher impulsiveness in PM mice could be due to an immature brain.