Growth and activity but not maturation are affected by perinatal diet.
Growth, maturation and activity in Sprague-Dawley rat offspring were studied as a function of two diets which were offered both pre- and postnatally. Day 1 gravid rats were placed ad lib on either Purina chow or Ensure, a total liquid diet. Half of each group was switched to the other diet on day 21 of gestation and maintained on it through weaning. Offspring remained on the same diet until sacrificed on postnatal day 60. Seven developmental measures were assessed daily until all of the animals reached criterion. The type of diet significantly affected maternal weight gain during the second third of gestation, and neonatal weight gain as measured on days 7, 14, 21, 28 and 45. Females were affected more than were male littermates. Males were significantly heavier than female littermates at all postnatal weighings. Diet had little or no effect on the developmental measures. Male/female differences were found for voluntary activity in the wheel which was measured on day 45. The use of liquid diets in behavioral teratology studies and the wisdom of using pellet diets as a control are discussed. The possibility of substituting careful measures of growth as an alternative to developmental testing is discussed.
Martin
J C
JC
Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington, Seattle 98105.
Martin
D C
DC
Shores
P
P
Chao
S
S
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005865:Gestational Age; D006128:Growth; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010500:Perinatology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D012741:Sexual Maturation