A Protocol for Producing the Maternal Low-Protein Rat Model: A Tool for Preclinical Proteomic Studies

Epidemiological studies have shown that periods of poor nutrition during pregnancy can lead to an increased risk of metabolic and psychiatric disorders in the offspring. In addition, some individuals with disorders such as schizophrenia show signs of impaired insulin signalling. These findings indicate that there may be a link between metabolism and neuronal function and they also provide supporting evidence for neurodevelopmental origins of mental illness. This chapter gives a detailed protocol for generation of the maternal low-protein (LP) rat model, which leads to metabolic disturbances in the offspring. This model has been used in proteomic studies of several disorders including schizophrenia.