Abstract:
Caloric restriction (CR) has been, since the first published studies, the most used non-pharmacological intervention to investigate mechanisms related to aging and longevity. This intervention has shown beneficial results in reduction and incidence of several chronic diseases and functional declines related to aging such as age-related cancers, immunological and neuroendocrine alterations, motor dysfunctions and development of diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Despite its beneficial results in several conditions, the effects of CR on cognition and behavior show ambiguous results, since its effects vary according to its intensity and period in which it is performed. The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of 50% caloric restriction since birth on cognition and behavior in adult male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into a control group (C) (n=24) and a restricted group (R) (n=24) and started the CR protocol from birth, being breastfed in mothers in a restricted group for the restricted group. After weaning, the pups received the same diet as the mothers until 100 days of age. At 90 days, the animals performed behavioral tests to assess exploratory behavior, learning and memory, spatial memory, anxious behavior and depressive behavior. Data were analyzed using unpaired t-test or Mann-Whitney test, One-Way and Two-Way Anovas followed by Tukey's post-hoc test, with a significance level set at p<0.05. The results of the present work showed that CR since birth did not cause cognitive impairment in rats when they were adults, and it was still beneficial to attenuate anxiety-like behavior. Together, these data may contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms related to the effects of CR on the brain in animal models, especially on cognition and anxiety behavior.
Audience Take Away:
- The CR brings positive effects on anxiety levels in rats.
- The CR not cause cognitive impairment in rats.
- The CR attenuate anxiety-like behavior in rats.
