Behavioral effects of an intrauterine or neonatal diabetic environment in the rat.

Maternal diabetes during pregnancy may cause lasting effects on the psychoneurological development in the offspring. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible effects of an intrauterine or neonatal exposure to a diabetic environment on behavior during infancy and adulthood. On days 4 and 6 of age, offspring of streptozotocin-diabetic rats emitted higher numbers of ultrasound calls compared to control offspring. Neonatally streptozotocin-treated rats explored their environment by diminished sniffing and rearing intensity compared to control rats. However, in adult life neither of these rat groups displayed behavioral differences compared to their respective control group. The results suggest that development of basic behavioral patterns in the rat proceed almost normally despite exposure to a diabetic environment in the early embryonic period or in early infancy.