Effects of maternal food restriction on physical growth and neurobehavior in newborn Wistar rats

Maternal nutrition plays a critical role in physical growth and neurobehavior of offspring. The aim of this study was to assess the nature of maternal undernutrition on the physical growth and neurobehavior of newborn male and female rat pups. To attain this aim, a model of maternal 50% food restriction (FR50) was induced in Wistar rats. After parturition, the physical growth and neurobehavior were tested in male and female pups. Compared with gender-matched controls, both male and female FR50 pups showed delayed physical growth, such as pinna detachment, hair growth, eruption of incisor teeth and eye opening. Also, they showed a delay of neurobehavior in surface righting reflex and cliff avoidance reflex. In addition, FR50 male pups exhibited a delay in achieving negative geotaxis response compared to normal male pups. These data obtained are useful to provide baseline information about the neurodevelopmental delay of maternal undernutrition of both sexes in rat pups and help to gain a better understanding of undernutrition during human fetal and neonatal periods.