Intergenerational transmission of maternal care deficiency and offspring development delay induced by perinatal protein malnutrition

SILVINA V. SONZOGNI; EZEQUIEL SMUCLER; OCTAVIO GIANATIEMPO; LAURA M. BELLUSCIO; EDUARDO T. CÁNEPA; OCTAVIO GIANATIEMPO; LAURA M. BELLUSCIO; EDUARDO T. CÁNEPA; ESTEFANÍA A. FESSER; MARIELA SUED; ESTEFANÍA A. FESSER; MARIELA SUED; SILVINA V. SONZOGNI; EZEQUIEL SMUCLER

NUTRITIONAL NEUROSCIENCE

MANEY PUBLISHING

Lugar: London; Año: 2018 p. 1 - 11

1028-415X

Objectives: Early life represents a sensitive and critical period for an individual. Nutrition plays a crucial role inthe maturation and functional development of the central nervous system. Inadequate nutrition before birthand during the postnatal life can seriously interfere with brain development and lead to behavioral andneurological disorders such as learning disabilities and psychiatric diseases. In addition, the quality ofmother?infant interactions represents an important adaptive pathway that prepares offspring for theconditions of life. In this work, we asked if protein malnutrition alters maternal care and offspringdevelopment and if these phenotypes can be transmitted to next generation.Methods: Female mice were fed with a normal or hypoproteic diet during pregnancy and lactation. Nurturingbehaviors, i.e. arched, blanket and passive nursing, and liking and grooming of the pups, were evaluatedfrom postnatal day 1 (PD1) to postnatal day 7 (PD7). The same protocol was employed to evaluatematernal behavior for filial generation 1 (F1) and filial generation 2 (F2) dams. Offspring development wasevaluated for F1, F2, and F3 generations. Developmental landmarks and neurological reflexes wereassessed from PD8 until complete development of the landmark or acquisition of the reflex.Results: Our results show that malnourished dams provide a lesser and more fragmented maternal care thantheir normally fed counterparts. This altered maternal behavior as well as the delay in the physical andneurological development observed in the offspring from malnourished mothers was transmitted up to twogenerations at least.Conclusion: These results highlight the harmful effects of protein malnutrition even for generations that are notdirectly exposed to this environmental adversity.