Articles producció científica> Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques

Folate deficiency in rat pups during weaning causes learning and memory deficits

  • Identification data

    Identifier: imarina:6388002
    Authors:
    Berrocal-Zaragoza MISequeira JMMurphy MMFernandez-Ballart JDAbdel Baki SGBergold PJQuadros EV
    Abstract:
    © The Authors 2014. Folate is essential for fetal development, and its deficiency during gestation causes behavioural deficits in the offspring. The present study investigated its influence during weaning on brain function in the pups of rats that were put on a folate-deficient (FD) diet on postnatal day (PND) 1. Systemic folate deficiency in pups on the FD diet (n 15) was evident from the dramatically lower hepatic folate concentrations (median 23.7, range 8.1-48.4 ng/mg protein) and higher homocysteine concentrations (median 27.7, range 14.7-45.5 pmol/mg protein), respectively, compared with those of pups on the normal diet (ND; n 9) (median 114.5, range 64.5-158.5 ng/mg protein and median 15.5, range 11.6-18.9 pmol/mg protein) on PND 23. Brain folate concentrations although low were similar in pups on the FD diet (median 10.5, range 5.5-24.5 ng/mg protein) and ND (median 11.1, range 7.1-24.2 ng/mg protein). There was a high accumulation of homocysteine in the brain of FD pups, mostly in the hippocampus (median 58.1, range 40.8-99.7 pmol/mg protein) and cerebellum (median 69.1, range 50.8-126.6 pmol/mg protein), indicating metabolic folate deficiency despite normal brain folate concentrations. Developmental deficits or autistic traits were more frequent in the FD group than in the ND group and repetitive self-grooming occurred, on average, three times (range 1-8) v. once (range 0-3) during 5 min, respectively. Long-term memory or spatial learning and set-shifting deficits affected 12 to 62 % of rats in the FD group compared with none in the ND group. Post-weaning folic acid supplementation did not correct these deficits. These observations indicate that folate deficiency during weaning affects postnatal development even when gestational folate supply is normal.
  • Others:

    Author, as appears in the article.: Berrocal-Zaragoza MI; Sequeira JM; Murphy MM; Fernandez-Ballart JD; Abdel Baki SG; Bergold PJ; Quadros EV
    Department: Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques
    URV's Author/s: BERROCAL ZARAGOZA, MA. ISABEL / Fernández Ballart, Joan Domènech / Murphy, Michelle
    Keywords: Weaning period Set shifting Folate receptors Brain function Behaviours
    Abstract: © The Authors 2014. Folate is essential for fetal development, and its deficiency during gestation causes behavioural deficits in the offspring. The present study investigated its influence during weaning on brain function in the pups of rats that were put on a folate-deficient (FD) diet on postnatal day (PND) 1. Systemic folate deficiency in pups on the FD diet (n 15) was evident from the dramatically lower hepatic folate concentrations (median 23.7, range 8.1-48.4 ng/mg protein) and higher homocysteine concentrations (median 27.7, range 14.7-45.5 pmol/mg protein), respectively, compared with those of pups on the normal diet (ND; n 9) (median 114.5, range 64.5-158.5 ng/mg protein and median 15.5, range 11.6-18.9 pmol/mg protein) on PND 23. Brain folate concentrations although low were similar in pups on the FD diet (median 10.5, range 5.5-24.5 ng/mg protein) and ND (median 11.1, range 7.1-24.2 ng/mg protein). There was a high accumulation of homocysteine in the brain of FD pups, mostly in the hippocampus (median 58.1, range 40.8-99.7 pmol/mg protein) and cerebellum (median 69.1, range 50.8-126.6 pmol/mg protein), indicating metabolic folate deficiency despite normal brain folate concentrations. Developmental deficits or autistic traits were more frequent in the FD group than in the ND group and repetitive self-grooming occurred, on average, three times (range 1-8) v. once (range 0-3) during 5 min, respectively. Long-term memory or spatial learning and set-shifting deficits affected 12 to 62 % of rats in the FD group compared with none in the ND group. Post-weaning folic acid supplementation did not correct these deficits. These observations indicate that folate deficiency during weaning affects postnatal development even when gestational folate supply is normal.
    Thematic Areas: Zootecnia / recursos pesqueiros Saúde coletiva Química Odontología Nutrition and dietetics Nutrition & dietetics Nutrição Medicine (miscellaneous) Medicina veterinaria Medicina iii Medicina ii Medicina i Matemática / probabilidade e estatística Interdisciplinar General medicine Farmacia Engenharias iv Engenharias ii Educação física Ciências biológicas iii Ciências biológicas ii Ciências biológicas i Ciências ambientais Ciências agrárias i Ciência de alimentos Biotecnología Biodiversidade Administração pública e de empresas, ciências contábeis e turismo
    licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
    ISSN: 14752662
    Author's mail: michelle.murphy@urv.cat
    Author identifier: 0000-0002-6304-6204
    Record's date: 2024-09-07
    Papper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
    Link to the original source: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/folate-deficiency-in-rat-pups-during-weaning-causes-learning-and-memory-deficits/391AD532CCB76F5680C6C9C202F9795C#
    Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
    Papper original source: British Journal Of Nutrition. 112 (8): 1323-1332
    APA: Berrocal-Zaragoza MI; Sequeira JM; Murphy MM; Fernandez-Ballart JD; Abdel Baki SG; Bergold PJ; Quadros EV (2014). Folate deficiency in rat pups during weaning causes learning and memory deficits. British Journal Of Nutrition, 112(8), 1323-1332. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114514002116
    Article's DOI: 10.1017/S0007114514002116
    Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
    Journal publication year: 2014
    Publication Type: Journal Publications
  • Keywords:

    Medicine (Miscellaneous),Nutrition & Dietetics,Nutrition and Dietetics
    Weaning period
    Set shifting
    Folate receptors
    Brain function
    Behaviours
    Zootecnia / recursos pesqueiros
    Saúde coletiva
    Química
    Odontología
    Nutrition and dietetics
    Nutrition & dietetics
    Nutrição
    Medicine (miscellaneous)
    Medicina veterinaria
    Medicina iii
    Medicina ii
    Medicina i
    Matemática / probabilidade e estatística
    Interdisciplinar
    General medicine
    Farmacia
    Engenharias iv
    Engenharias ii
    Educação física
    Ciências biológicas iii
    Ciências biológicas ii
    Ciências biológicas i
    Ciências ambientais
    Ciências agrárias i
    Ciência de alimentos
    Biotecnología
    Biodiversidade
    Administração pública e de empresas, ciências contábeis e turismo
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