Undernutrition during pregnancy and lactation increases the number of fos-cells in the reward system in response to a 5-HT6 receptor agonist in male adolescent rats

Abstract

Undernutrition promotes morphofunctional adaptations in neuroanatomical circuits, leading to behavioural changes. Adolescence is a period of vulnerability for these adaptations, such as the control of food intake and the serotonergic system. The serotonergic system is capable of promoting satiety. However, its role in hedonic control has not been fully elucidated. The involvement of the 5-HT6 receptor in motivational feeding behaviours was recently observed. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of a 5-HT6 receptor agonist on food intake and neuronal activation in areas of the reward system in adolescent rats subjected to perinatal protein undernutrition. Wistar rats were divided into two groups according to nutritional manipulation during gestation and lactation. It has been observed that undernourished animals present greater neuronal activation in response to the 5HT-6 receptor agonist in areas of the food reward system.

Keywords:

• Maternal diet
• undernutrition
• receptor serotonergic
• EMD 386088
• reward system

Acknowledgements

We thank the Pathology Laboratories LIKA-UFPE (Immunopathology Keiso Asami) and the Center for Technology Platform 2 Aggeu Magalhães Research Center – FioCruz for technical and structural support.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors appreciate the financial support FACEPE (Foundation for Science and Technology of the State of Pernambuco), CAPES and CNPq.