title: Supplementation with fish oil and coconut fat prevents prenatal stress-induced changes in early postnatal development.
abstract: Adequate development of the central nervous system depends on prenatal and postnatal factors. On one hand, prenatal stress (PNS) has been implicated in impaired development of the offspring. On other hand, nutritional factors during pregnancy and lactation can influence fetal and postnatal growth. This study assessed the postnatal development of rat offspring exposed to PNS, which consisted of restraint and bright lights, 3 times/day, from days 14 to 20 of pregnancy, whose mothers were fed different diets during pregnancy and lactation: regular diet, diet supplemented with coconut fat or fish oil. When pregnancy was confirmed, they were distributed into control (CTL) or PNS groups. At birth, PNS males and females weighed less than those in the group CTL. At 21 days of age, this alteration was no longer observed with fish oil and coconut fat groups. PNS and coconut fat diet induced increased locomotor activity in 13 day old male and female pups, and this effect was prevented by fish oil supplementation only in females. In conclusion, postnatal development from birth to weaning was influenced by PNS and diet and some of those alterations were prevented by coconut fat and fish oil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Botucatu, 862, 1° andar, CEP 04023-062 São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elizabethe C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Borsonelo
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suchecki
authors.forename: Helena Maria
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Calil
authors.forename: José Carlos F
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Galduróz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight; D003059:Cocos / Q000737:chemistry*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005395:Fish Oils; D003345:Corticosterone