PROTEIN MALNUTRITION DIMINISHES CEREBRAL CORTEX BDNF EXPRESSION AND EVOKES ANXIETY-LIKE BEHAVIOURS

LAURA BELLUSCIO; BRUNO G. BERARDINO; JULIETA M. CERUTI; EDUARDO T. CÁNEPA

Mendoza

Congreso; XLVIII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; 2012

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular

Undernutrition and malnutrition continue to be some of the most common conditions that affect the development of children living in developing countries. The aim of this work was to study the effects of early protein malnutrition over the development of the pup nervous system. Pregnant CF-1 mice were fed with normal or low protein diet during pregnancy and lactation. Several developmental milestones were analyzed from P1 to P21. Pups from the low protein group exhibited a delay in righting reflex and grip strength progress, and in eye and ear opening and fur growth. We studied the expression of several neurotrophins and immediate early genes by RT-PCR and western blot and found a reduction in BDNF expression in the cortex of 3 week old pups from the low protein group. The presence of different types of chromatin modifications was assessed by western blot, and we found an increase in the presence of acetylated histone 4 in the cortex of malnourished pups. Pups from both groups were fed with standard lab chow after weaning and subjected to the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field tests in order to study the presence of anxiety-like behaviours in the young adults. The offspring from low protein group exhibited a more anxious behaviour in the EPM. Our results indicate that pups subjected to early protein malnutrition suffered a developmental delay and presented a more anxious behaviour.