Feeding behavior of adult rats submitted to protein malnutrition whose mothers received protein restricted diets during lactation

Abstract

This study evaluated food intake of adult animals whose mothers received protein- or energy-restricted diets during lactation as follows: control (C)- 23% of protein; protein-restricted (PR) - 8% of protein; energy-restricted (ER) - 23% of protein, restricted in quantity. After weaning all pups received the control diet until 60 days, when they were separated into groups, with free access to the following diets during 21 days: (C/C)- pups of control dams fed control diet; (PR/C)-pups of control dams fed protein-restricted diet; (C/PR)- pups of protein-restricted dams fed control diet; (PR/PR)-pups of protein-restricted dams fed protein-restricted diet; (C/ER)-pups of energy-restricted dams fed control diet; (PR/ER)-pups of energy-restricted dams fed protein-restricted diet. Pups of protein-restricted dams consumed less food until day 57 (p<0.01), while pups of energy-restricted dams normalized their ingestion at 37 days. At 81 days, all malnourished animals consumed less food than the control (p<0.01). The kind of diet consumed in the lactation period changed the food intake and the body weight of the offspring in the adulthood. So, the protein restriction can possibly be associated with a permanent alteration in the hypothalamic control of nutrients selection of the offspring.