Effects of neonatal undernutrition and cold stress on behavior and biochemical brain parameters in XXXX .

@entity35 @entity4833 @entity204 @entity76
This study was conducted to investigate the separate and combined effects of neonatal undernutrition (U) and cold stress (S) on the behavioral and cerebral development of postweaning @entity35 . A severe U was imposed by feeding dams a low protein diet. Postweaning all pups were fed a control diet. S consisted of daily exposure to 5 degrees for 3 minutes from day 2 to 11. Behavioral data show that U animals, stressed (S) + nonstressed (NS), exhibited a significant deficit in reversal learning of T-maze at 21 days, an enhanced passive avoidance response, but no difference in active-avoidance at 35 days when compared to controls of the same age. S had no effect on behavior development. At @entity204 (110 days), the brains were dissected into five sections and assay for @entity4833 ( @entity4833 ) and cholinesterase (ChE) activities. Brain weights of U animals (NS + S) were significantly lower in all sections except dorsal cortex (DC). @entity4833 and ChE activities were significantly higher in all sections (except DC) of U animals relative to controls. S resulted in @entity76 and ChE: @entity4833 ratios in some sections. Our results suggest a delayed behavioral maturation in U animals and an association between early postweaning behavior and brain parameters in adult rehabilitated animals.
