Maternal low protein diet decreases brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in the brains of the neonatal rat offspring

Prenatal exposure to a maternal low protein diet has been known to cause cognitive impairment, learning and memory deficits. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been identified. Herein, we demonstrate that a maternal low protein (LP) diet causes, in the brains of the neonatal rat offspring, an attenuation in the basal expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophin indispensable for learning and memory. Female rats were fed either a 20% normal protein diet (NP) or an 8% low protein (LP) three weeks before breeding and during the gestation period.
Source: The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Source Type: research