Effects of early protein malnutrition and environmental stimulation on behavioral and biochemical parameters in rats submitted to the elevated plus-maze test

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of the tactile/handling stimulation (H) and environmental enrichment (EE) in well-nourished (C - 16% of protein) and malnourished (M - 6% of protein) rats tested in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) at 36 and 37 days of age. The results showed higher exploration of the open arms in the EPM in M as compared with C animals, as well as lower index of risk assessment behaviors, and EE, but not H, reversed the alterations produced by malnutrition in the EPM. Biochemical analysis showed higher levels of corticosterone in M when compared with C rats. The non-stimulated animals presented higher levels of polyamines in the hippocampus when compared with the stimulated ones in both diet conditions. It is suggested that both the lower anxiety levels and the lower risk-assessment behaviors in the EPM, as well as the higher levels of corticosterone, can be due to alterations in the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis as the result of early protein malnutrition.

Behavioral experiences as drivers of oligodendrocyte lineage dynamics and myelin plasticity

“…Malnutrition can result in damaged myelin, impaired myelin sheath packing, and alterations in the lipid M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT composition at the myelin membrane, all resulting in white matter abnormalities that are somewhat irreversible and last through adulthood (Almeida et al, 2005;Pacagnella et al, 2013;Vargas et al, 2000). Malnutrition is furthermore linked to activation of the stress response via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (Nanri et al, 2014;Soares et al, 2013).…”

Nutritional status and social behavior in preschool children: the mediating effects of neurocognitive functioning

“…Later studies indicate that prenatal and postnatal malnutrition in rats decrease both playful and non‐playful social encounters (Whatson & Smart ; Almeida et al ; Almeida & De Araujo ; Camargo & de Sousa Almeida ; Belluscio et al ). However, later nutritional rehabilitation has been found to reverse the changes in non‐playful social behavior as well as increase playful social behavior (Almeida & De Araujo ; Soares et al ; Soares et al ). Studies on primates have shown that protein malnutrition increases aggression and reduces active social play behavior while rehabilitation of the nutritional deprivation increased duration of active social play behavior (Zimmermann et al ).…”

“…However, later nutritional rehabilitation has been found to reverse the changes in non-playful social behavior as well as increase playful social behavior (Almeida & De Araujo 2001;Soares et al 2013;Soares et al 2015). Studies on primates have shown that protein malnutrition increases aggression and reduces active social play behavior while rehabilitation of the nutritional deprivation increased duration of active social play behavior (Zimmermann et al 1975).…”

X-PloRat: A Software for Scoring Animal Behavior in Enclosed Spaces

“…Due to the good acceptance of the X-PloRat by many Brazilian researchers (Curio et al, 2009;Filgueiras, Carvalho-Netto, & Estanislau, 2014;Meneses, Lopes, Velarde, & Boaventura, 2011;Rico, Penagos-Gil, Castañeda, & Corredor, 2016;Serafim, Kishi, Canto-de-Souza, & Mattioli, 2010, 2013Soares, Melo, et al, 2013;Soares, Oliveira, et al, 2013), it is vitally important to make available a formal presentation of the software's technical characteristics.…”