Sex-dependent cognitive performance in baboon offspring following maternal caloric restriction in pregnancy and lactation

Reprod Sci. 2012 May;19(5):493-504. doi: 10.1177/1933719111424439. Epub 2012 Feb 16.

Abstract

In humans a suboptimal diet during development has negative outcomes in offspring. We investigated the behavioral outcomes in baboons born to mothers undergoing moderate maternal nutrient restriction (MNR). Maternal nutrient restriction mothers (n = 7) were fed 70% of food eaten by controls (CTR, n = 12) fed ad libitum throughout gestation and lactation. At 3.3 ± 0.2 (mean ± standard error of the mean [SEM]) years of age offspring (controls: female [FC, n = 8], male [MC, n = 4]; nutrient restricted: female [FR, n = 3] and male [MR, n = 4]) were administered progressive ratio, simple discrimination, intra-/extra-dimension set shift and delayed matching to sample tasks to assess motivation, learning, attention, and working memory, respectively. A treatment effect was observed in MNR offspring who demonstrated less motivation and impaired working memory. Nutrient-restricted female offspring showed improved learning, while MR offspring showed impaired learning and attentional set shifting and increased impulsivity. In summary, 30% restriction in maternal caloric intake has long lasting neurobehavioral outcomes in adolescent male baboon offspring.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Attention
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Caloric Restriction / adverse effects*
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology*
  • Female
  • Lactation
  • Learning
  • Male
  • Memory
  • Motivation
  • Papio*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / veterinary*
  • Sex Characteristics*