Protein malnutrition during pregnancy alters maternal behavior and anxiety-like behavior in offspring.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of protein malnutrition during pregnancy on maternal behavior, on the early behavior in pups by ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) emission, and on the behavior of offspring in adulthood in an elevated T-maze.


METHODS
Pregnant female rats were fed a normal protein-powdered diet (22% casein; control) or a low-protein (hypoproteic) diet (6% casein; protein restriction) during the first 2 weeks of pregnancy. On the fifth postpartum day (PND5), the number of USV was rated. On PND7, maternal behavior was assessed. Male offspring in adulthood were evaluated for behavioral performance in an elevated T-maze.


RESULTS
Our results demonstrated that a hypoproteic diet during early pregnancy increased the maternal behavior, increased the number of USV by pups, and reduced the inhibitory avoidance responses in an elevated T-maze during adulthood. In addition, there was a reduction in weight gain of rats during pregnancy and of offspring during lactation.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the data found in our study suggest that the increase in USV emitted by pups due to hypoproteic diet during pregnancy accentuated maternal behavior. In addition, an increase in maternal care promoted the reduction in anxiety-like behavior in adult male offspring.
a Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas , Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas (Unifal-MG) , Alfenas, Minas Gerais , Brazil.|b Programa de Pós-graduacão em Biociências Aplicadas à Saúde , Brazil.
Tatiane Helena
TH
Batista
a Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas , Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas (Unifal-MG) , Alfenas, Minas Gerais , Brazil.|b Programa de Pós-graduacão em Biociências Aplicadas à Saúde , Brazil.
Vanessa Barbosa
VB
Veronesi
a Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas , Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas (Unifal-MG) , Alfenas, Minas Gerais , Brazil.|b Programa de Pós-graduacão em Biociências Aplicadas à Saúde , Brazil.
Ana Cláudia Alves Freire
ACAF
Ribeiro
a Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas , Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas (Unifal-MG) , Alfenas, Minas Gerais , Brazil.|b Programa de Pós-graduacão em Biociências Aplicadas à Saúde , Brazil.
Alexandre
A
Giusti-Paiva
a Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas , Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas (Unifal-MG) , Alfenas, Minas Gerais , Brazil.|b Programa de Pós-graduacão em Biociências Aplicadas à Saúde , Brazil.
Fabiana Cardoso
FC
Vilela
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology
Hypoproteic diet; Maternal behavior; Offspring