title: Anxiolytic-like effects of short-term postnatal protein malnutrition in the elevated plus-maze test.
abstract: Given that protein malnutrition induces structural, neurochemical and functional changes in the CNS, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of short-term early protein malnutrition on the behavior and reactivity to diazepam (DZ) in the elevated plus-maze test (EPM). Male Wistar rats (n=176) from well-nourished (16%-protein) or malnourished litters (6%-protein) were distributed in five different groups: W (well-nourished), M7 (malnourished for 7 days), M14 (malnourished for 14 days), M21 (malnourished for 21 days) and M28 (malnourished for 28 days) since birthday. EPM results showed that the longer the exposition to the deficient diet, the lower the anxiety of malnourished animals, a result similar to that produced by the treatment with DZ. This anxiolytic-like effect suggested that short-term malnutrition may affect neural and/or neurochemical systems believed to underlie behavioral expression in anxiogenic experimental situations.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nutrition and Behavior, University of São Paulo, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Laura
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Françolin-Silva
authors.forename: Andréa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: da Silva Hernandes
authors.forename: Marisa Tomoe Hebihara
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Camila Tavares
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Valadares
authors.forename: Sebastião Sousa
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D003975:Diazepam