Publication Cover
Nutritional Neuroscience
An International Journal on Nutrition, Diet and Nervous System
Volume 16, 2013 - Issue 3
152
Views
14
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original research papers

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

, , , , &
Pages 104-112 | Published online: 19 Jul 2013
 

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.

Acknowledgments

The authors express gratitude to Dalmo Presta Nicola, technician at the Laboratory of Nutrition and Behavior of the University of São Paulo, for the assistance in the animal care and behavioral tests; Maria Valci Aparecida dos Santos, technician at the Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of the University of São Paulo, for the assistance in the analysis of corticosterone; Gilberto João Padovan, chemist of the Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry at the University of São Paulo, for the assistance in the chromatography analysis; and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) for the financial support of this study (Grant Number 2007/51380-7).

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 65.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 273.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.