A primary study on feeding behaviors of autism model rat pups in the weaning period

It is well known that children with autistic spectrum disorder possess various behavioral problems related to feeding, short attention span and maladaptation to surrounding environments. This study aimed to identify appropriate measures to address behavioral characteristics associated with eating and feeding in children with ASD by examining feeding behavior throughout the weaning period in rat pup models of autism.Male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats and healthy SD rats were nursed with their mothers until 14 days after birth. Then, the pups were divided into the following three groups and related in separate cages without their mothers: group A, two model rats; group B, a model rat and a control rat; and group C, two control rats. The number of meals ingested together and the number of body contact made with other rats at mealtime in each cage were counted from the 15th day to the 21st day. During this period, the body weight of each rat and the amount of food intake in each cage were also measured.These were no remarkable differences in body weight gain between the model rats and control rats. In addition, the amount of food intake was not statistically different among the three groups. The number of body contacts made was not significantly different between group B and group C; however, the number of body contacts made was significantly lower in group A than in the other two groups.These findings indicate that the rat pup models of autism displayed a feeding behavior similar to that of children with autism. These behavioral problems were improved by the inclusion of healthy rat pups in the same cage at the time of feeding.