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Behavioural effects of prenatal and postnatal undernutrition in rats
A K Jaiswal1, S N Upadhyay, K S Satyan
1Department of Pharmacology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
Insights
Both prenatal and postnatal undernutrition in rats increased anxiety and depression behaviors. Postnatal undernutrition had a more significant impact on anxiety and depressive behaviors compared to prenatal undernutrition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Maternal nutrition during gestation and lactation critically influences offspring neurodevelopment and behavior.
- Undernutrition during sensitive developmental periods may lead to long-term alterations in anxiety and depression.
- Understanding the differential impact of prenatal versus postnatal undernutrition is crucial for identifying critical windows of vulnerability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinct and combined effects of prenatal and postnatal undernutrition on anxiety and depression in a rat model.
- To assess behavioral changes in response to undernutrition using established anxiety and depression paradigms.
- To determine if the timing of undernutrition (prenatal vs. postnatal) influences the severity of behavioral deficits.
Main Methods:
- Prenatal undernutrition induced by maternal dietary restriction during gestation.
- Postnatal undernutrition induced by cross-fostering pups between fed and unfed mothers during the suckling period (days 2-18).
- Behavioral testing at 2.5-3 months of age using the elevated plus maze, open-field test, and forced swim test.
Main Results:
- Postnatal undernutrition significantly increased anxiety behaviors in both the elevated plus maze and open-field tests.
- Prenatal undernutrition induced milder anxiogenic effects in the elevated plus maze but increased anxiety in the open-field test.
- Both prenatal and postnatal undernutrition led to increased depressive behaviors in the forced swim test, with postnatal undernutrition causing a more pronounced effect.
Conclusions:
- Postnatal undernutrition exerts a more substantial influence on the development of anxiety and depressive behaviors than prenatal undernutrition.
- The timing of nutritional insult during development significantly modulates the behavioral outcomes related to anxiety and depression.
- These findings highlight the critical importance of adequate nutrition during both prenatal and postnatal periods for healthy neurodevelopment and emotional regulation.
Abstract:
Effects of pre- and post-natal undernutrition on anxiety and depression paradigms were studied in albino rats. Prenatal undernutrition was induced in rat pups by restricting the dam's daily food during the gestation period whereas postnatal undernutrition in rat pups was induced by rotating them between lactating and non-lactating maternalised females daily for 12 hr during suckling period from 2nd to 18th day after birth. At 2.5 to 3 months of age all the rat pups were subjected to (i) elevated plus maze behaviour, (ii) open-field behaviour, and (iii) swimming induced behavioural despair tests. The results indicate that postnatal undernutrition caused significantly increased anxiety in the elevated plus maze as well as in open-field behaviour tests. Whereas prenatal undernourishment caused lesser degree of anxiogenic behaviours in the elevated plus maze test. Prenatally undernourished rats showed increased anxiety in the open-field behaviour test. Both, pre- and post-natal undernutrition also lead to increased depressive behaviour in the behavioural despair test and postnatal undernourishment caused greater degree of behavioural despair.