A maternal methyl-containing diet alters learning ability in the Morris swimming test in adult rats

• Published in: Neuroscience and behavioral physiology Vol. 37; no. 5; pp. 425 - 428
• Main Authors: Plyusnina, I Z, Os'kina, I N, Shchepina, O A, Prasolova, L A, Trut, L N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature B.V 01.06.2007
• Subjects: Age Factors; Animal Feed; Animals; Anxiety - metabolism; Betaine - administration & dosage; Betaine - metabolism; Brain - metabolism; Choline - administration & dosage; Choline - metabolism; Critical Period (Psychology); Dietary Supplements; Escape Reaction - physiology; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - physiology; Lactation - metabolism; Male; Maze Learning - physiology; Methylation; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Rats; Space Perception - physiology; Spatial Behavior - physiology
• ISSN: 0097-0549; 1573-899X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11055-007-0030-7

Maternal choline diet is known to affect the processes of spatial learning. We report here our studies of learning ability in the Morris swimming test in the adult offspring of maternal rats given a methyl-containing supplement enriched with choline and betaine during pregnancy and lactation. Increases in the time taken to find the invisible platform and the duration of swimming close to the vessel walls were seen, these demonstrating worsening of learning ability in response to the maternal diet. Changes in the platform search strategy were not associated with increases in anxiety in male rats. The possible role of a maternal methyl-containing diet in altering the expression of genes controlling the development of the nervous system is discussed.