Galler J R, Propert K J
J Nutr. 1981 Aug;111(8):1330-6. doi: 10.1093/jn/111.8.1330.
Female rats rehabilitated for one or two generations on an adequate level of dietary protein following a history of intergenerational malnutrition were studied during the postnatal suckling period. No recovery occurred after two generations of dietary rehabilitation for most measures of maternal behavior including active nursing, passive nursing, pup-oriented behavior, time spent in the nest or time spent in contact with the young. In contrast, nest quality improved to normal levels after rehabilitation. In addition, growth of pups born to females rehabilitated for one generation was similar to growth of control pups, and in the case of mothers rehabilitated for two generations, growth of offspring exceeded that of the control pups. These results demonstrate variable sensitivity of different maternal behaviors to rehabilitation following a history of intergenerational malnutrition, with lack of normalization of a considerable number of maternal behaviors. Consequently, some of these abnormalities in maternal behavior may result in persistent abnormalities in the behavior of offspring over several generations.
