Cited by 36Birth, Development, and HealthMemory and Neural MechanismsNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms

Hippocampal mechanisms in impaired spatial learning and memory in male offspring of rats fed a low-protein isocaloric diet in pregnancy and/or lactation

Reyes‐Castro, L. A., Padilla‐Gómez, E., Parga‐Martínez, N. J., Castro‐Rodríguez, D. C., Quirarte, G. L., Díaz‐Cintra, S., Nathanielsz, P. W., Zambrano, E.·2018·Hippocampus

Abstract

Maternal nutritional challenges during fetal and neonatal development result in developmental programming of multiple offspring organ systems including brain maturation and function. A maternal low-protein diet during pregnancy and lactation impairs associative learning and motivation. We evaluated effects of a maternal low-protein diet during gestation and/or lactation on male offspring spatial learning and hippocampal neural structure. Control mothers (C) ate 20% casein and restricted mothers (R) 10% casein, providing four groups: CC, RR, CR, and RC (first letter pregnancy, second lactation diet). We evaluated the behavior of young adult male offspring around postnatal day 110. Corticosterone and ACTH were measured. Males were tested for 2 days in the Morris water maze (MWM). Stratum lucidum mossy fiber (MF) area, total and spine type in basal dendrites of stratum oriens in the hippocampal CA3 field were measured. Corticosterone and ACTH were higher in RR vs. CC. In the MWM acquisition test CC offspring required two, RC three, and CR seven sessions to learn the maze. RR did not learn in eight trials. In a retention test 24 h later, RR, CR, and RC spent more time locating the platform and performed fewer target zone entries than CC. RR and RC offspring spent less time in the target zone than CC. MF area, total, and thin spines were lower in RR, CR, and RC than CC. Mushroom spines were lower in RR and RC than CC. Stubby spines were higher in RR, CR, and RC than CC. We conclude that maternal low-protein diet impairs spatial acquisition and memory retention in male offspring, and that alterations in hippocampal presynaptic (MF), postsynaptic (spines) elements and higher glucocorticoid levels are potential mechanisms to explain these learning and memory deficits.

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Crossref · 10.1002/hipo.22798

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  • Maternal malnutrition affects brain development and probably represents a leading factor in the pathogenesis of neurological and psychiatric disorders in offspring.

    “several studies showed that maternal malnutrition affects brain development and probably represents a leading factor in the pathogenesis of neurological and psychiatric disorders in an offspring [60,61,62].”

    From Beneficial Effects of Spirulina Consumption on Brain Health (2022) · cites this paper as [62]

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Authors
Reyes‐Castro, L. A., Padilla‐Gómez, E., Parga‐Martínez, N. J., Castro‐Rodríguez, D. C., Quirarte, G. L., Díaz‐Cintra, S., Nathanielsz, P. W., & Zambrano, E.
Affiliations
  • Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (MX)
  • Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX)
  • Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición SZ México 14080 México
  • Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Juriquilla Querétaro 76230 México
  • University of Wyoming (US)
Corresponding author
Zambrano, E.
Venue
Hippocampus
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-09-14
Volume
28
Issue
1
Pages
18-30
ISSN
  • 1050-9631 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-1063
OpenAlex
W2745623523
Cited by
36
References
115
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4
FWCI
5.67
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Hippocampus (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT‐155166)
  • Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (PAPIIT‐IN203616)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
Keywords
maternal low-protein diet, developmental programming, spatial learning and memory, CA3, dendritic spine morphology, corticosterone, ACTH, glucocorticoids, pregnancy, lactation, male offspring, Morris water maze
MeSH terms
Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Female, Hippocampus, Lactation, Learning Disabilities, Male, Memory Disorders, Neurons, Pregnancy, Random Allocation, Rats, Wistar, Diet, Protein-Restricted, Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Malnutrition, Spatial Memory, Spatial Learning

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