Effects of Food Restriction during Puberty and Pregnant Period on the Maternal Body and Growth of Offspring in Rats

Abstract

We studied the influence of food restriction through puberty and the puberty-pregnancy period in rats and the effects on the growth of offspring. We prepared three groups of 7 week old female rats: the CC group was fed ad libitum a diet containing 10% casein and 10% soy protein; another two food-restricted groups were fed 30% less than the CC group through puberty (RC group) or through the puberty-pregnancy period (RR group). Pair-feeding of the food-restricted and ad libitum–fed animals was carried out. All groups were fed ad libitum during the lactation period. Food restriction through puberty or the puberty-pregnant period reduced the maternal body weight gain of the RC and RR groups comparing with the CC group. The number of newborn pups per litter of the RC and RR groups was significantly smaller than that of the CC group. Body weight and organ weight of newborn pups of the RC and RR groups were significantly lower than those of the CC group. Survival rate in the period from birth to weaning of RC and RR groups was lower than that of CC group. At 3 weeks after birth retarded growth was observed in the weaning offspring of the RC and RR groups compared with the CC group. We concluded that food restriction through the puberty-pregnant period markedly affected maternal body and the growth of offspring. Moreover, food restriction through just the puberty period also had a remarkable influence on the growth of offspring.