Effects of malnutrition in utero on the behavioral adaptive response to postnatal chronic stress in young rats

• Grant number: 12/13945-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2012
• End date: August 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Malnutrition and Physiological Development
• Principal Investigator: Sandra Cordellini
• Grantee: Andréia Pereira de Souza
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Independently, exposure to stress and malnutrition are important risk factors in the development of neurobehavioral disorders. Moreover, the potential for the interaction between stress exposure and malnutrition can be postulated in the context of various conditions. However, the literature reports few studies focusing on how malnutrition in utero affects neurobehavioral adaptive response to stress. In this context, the objective of this study is to investigate the effects of malnutrition in utero on the behavioral adaptive response to postnatal immobilization chronic stress in young male rats. In order to do that, the overall activity, in the open field apparatus, and the anxiety, in the elevated plus maze apparatus, will be evaluated in male Wistar rats of 36-42 days subjected or not to malnutrition in utero and to postnatal immobilization chronic stress, isolated and in combination. (AU)