title: Prenatal protein malnutrition affects exploratory behavior of female rats in the elevated plus-maze test.
abstract: To study the effects of prenatal protein deficiency in the exploration of the elevated plus-maze, an ethological procedure was used. Female rats were provided with 25% (control) or with 6% (low-protein) casein diets before and during pregnancy. After birth eight pups in each litter (six males and two females) were fostered to a control mother. After weaning (21 days of age) all animals received a lab chow diet until behavioral testing began at 70 days of age. Individual prenatally malnourished (n = 12) and well-nourished (n = 12) females were placed at the center of the elevated plus-maze and allowed to explore for a 5-min session. One session was given per day for 6 consecutive days. The following variables were recorded: percentage of open arm entries; percentage of time spent in open arms; total arm entries; time in the center platform; latency to first open arm entry; number of attempts to enter an open arm; number of rearings; number of head-dips. The results showed a significant effect of malnutrition on six behaviors (percent open arm entries, percent time spent in open arms, attempts to enter open arms, rearings, head-dips, and latency to first open arm entry) and a significant diet by session interaction on two behaviors (attempts to enter open arms and head-dips). These results indicate increased exploration of the open arms in prenatally malnourished as compared with well-nourished control rats, suggestive of lower anxiety and/or a higher impulsiveness in these animals.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Nutriçoãe Comportamento, FFCLRP e Núcleo de Neurociências e Comportamento, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brasil.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tonkiss
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Galler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000523:psychology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley