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Growth restriction alters adult spatial memory and sensorimotor gating in a sex-specific manner
B Lauritz1, A L Siebel1, V Guille2
11Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Insights
Prenatal or postnatal growth restriction in rats impacts adult behavior, affecting motor skills, memory, and sensorimotor gating. These effects are sex-specific, highlighting the long-term consequences of early growth challenges.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Impaired uteroplacental blood flow causes intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), linked to adult diseases and behavioral changes.
- Small birth weight and accelerated later growth correlate with increased risks for adult health and altered behavior, including motor function, learning, memory, depression, and schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinct influences of prenatal (growth restriction) and postnatal (reduced litter size) factors on adult rat behavior.
- To determine sex-specific behavioral outcomes following early life growth challenges.
Main Methods:
- Wistar Kyoto rats underwent either bilateral uterine vessel ligation (Restricted group) or sham surgery (Control group).
- A third group (Reduced Litter group) had sham surgery but reduced litter size post-birth.
- Adult male and female offspring were assessed using behavioral tests at 6 months of age.
Main Results:
- Growth restriction did not impair motor function; males in Restricted and Reduced Litter groups showed enhanced motor performance.
- Spatial memory was improved in Restricted females only.
- Males exhibited more depressive-like behavior than females.
- Reduced litter size impaired sensorimotor gating in both sexes.
Conclusions:
- Early life growth restriction and/or suboptimal postnatal environments significantly influence adult rat behavior.
- Behavioral changes, including motor coordination, memory, and sensorimotor gating, manifest in a sex-specific manner.
- These findings underscore the lasting impact of early growth conditions on neurodevelopment and behavior.
Abstract:
In Western society, impaired uteroplacental blood flow is the major cause of human intrauterine growth restriction. Infants born small and who experience late childhood accelerated growth have an increased risk of developing adult diseases. Recent studies also suggest a link between birth weight and altered adult behavior, particularly relating to motor function, learning and memory, depression and schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to determine the relative influence of prenatal and postnatal growth restriction on adult behavioral outcomes in male and female rats. Uteroplacental insufficiency was induced in Wistar Kyoto rats by bilateral uterine vessel ligation on day 18 of gestation producing growth-restricted offspring (Restricted group). The Control group had sham surgery. Another group underwent sham surgery, with a reduction in litter size to five at birth equivalent to the Restricted litter size (Reduced Litter group). At 6 months of age, a series of behavioral tests were conducted in male and female offspring. Growth restriction did not impair motor function. In fact, Restricted and Reduced Litter males showed enhanced motor performance compared with Controls (P < 0.05). Spatial memory was greater in Restricted females only (P < 0.05). The Porsolts test was unremarkable, however, males exhibited more depressive-like behavior than females (P < 0.05). A reduction in sensorimotor gating function was identified in Reduced Litter males and females (P < 0.05). We have demonstrated that growth restriction and/or a poor lactational environment can affect adult rat behavior, particularly balance and coordination, memory and learning, and sensorimotor gating function, in a sex-specific manner.
