Active avoidance and brain DNA after postnatal food deprivation in rats

Abstract

Fond deprivation was produced in infant rats, from 2 to 20 days of age, by a procedure designed to minimize reduction in maternal care. Body weights in the deprived animals were 60% of control weights at 7 days, 65% at 20 days, and, after ad lib feeding, 89% at 4 months. No change was observed in the rate of acquistion of a conditioned active avoidance response in the food-deprived rats when compared with their littermate controls when tested as adults. No lasting reduction in cerebral desoxynucleic acid (DNA) was observed despote a 9% reduction in cerebellar DNA.