Visual discrimination in rats: the effects of rehabilitation following intergenerational malnutrition.
The effect of rehabilitation following intergenerational malnutrition in rats was observed using 3 tests of visual discrimination (Lashley tests). The following groups were studied at 3 months of age: animals nutritionally deprived of protein for many generations (intergenerational malnutrition), those from the same stock rehabilitated for 1 to 2 generations at an adequate protein level, and controls from a stock never exposed to malnutrition. Males rehabilitated for 2 generations showed some improvement in performance in the Lashley tests, but did not attain the level of well-nourished controls. In agreement with the earlier data, females were less susceptible to behavioral deficits from intergenerational malnutrition and recovery was observed after 1 generation of rehabilitation. Growth of both males and females rehabilitated for 1 or 2 generations was superior to that of control rats.
D000818:Animals; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000151:congenital / Q000534:rehabilitation; D051381:Rats; D012737:Sex Factors; D014796:Visual Perception