Analyzing the effects of a single episode of neonatal maternal deprivation on metabolite profiles in rat brain: a proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

Animal models have greatly contributed to the understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders and have provided extensive evidence for the “neurodevelopmental hypothesis.” In this regard, a single and prolonged episode (24 h) of early maternal deprivation early in life, on postnatal day 9, has been proposed as an animal model for the investigation of certain neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Since metabolic changes in hippocampus (HIP) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) have been described among schizophrenic patients by using ex vivo high-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) proton (1H) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, in the present study we aimed to investigate the effects of maternal deprivation (MD) on the metabolite profiles of the developing brain by using the HR-MAS technique. MD significantly altered the hippocampal and cortical metabolic profile of neonatal rats (PND 13) in a sex-dependent manner. Glutamine and glutamate (Glx) and taurine of male and female rat pups were altered in both brain areas analyzed. Differences in hippocampal phosphorylethanolamine have also been found as a function of the MD protocol. In addition, MD induced some other region- and sex-dependent effects, including changes in N-acetyl aspartate and total choline signals in the hippocampi of male pups. Present findings indicate a different brain metabolic profile in our animal model of early life stress suggesting its potential utility in the implementation of translational neuropsychiatric research.

Graphical Abstract
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• Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (212 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights▶Maternal deprivation (MD) is an animal model of developmental neuropsychopathology. ▶Brain metabolic profile of control and MD rats was studied by ex vivo HR-MAS-NMR. ▶MD altered hippocampal and cortical metabolic profile in neonatal rats. ▶Changes in metabolite levels may suggest a delay in brain development.