Effect of lecithin consumption during pregnancy and lactation on novel object recognition behavior among male and female rat offspring

Mozhgan Torabi, Seyed Mahdi, Firoozan, Mahnaz Kesmati
2014 Arak Medical University Journal (AMUJ)   unpublished
Some studies have shown that central cholinergic system may have an effect on animals' memory of object positioning. However, there are no sufficient information about the effects of consumption of substances that affect the system during pregnancy including effects like novel objects recognition comparing to old ones and even the effect on the fetus. This study aimed to investigate lecithin (as a source of choline) consumption effects, during pregnancy and lactation, on object recognition
more » ... ior, as a marker of cognitive memory, among male and female rat offspring. Material and Methods: In an experimental study, female pregnant rats with an average weight of 160±10 grams were gavaged by lecithin or its carriers. For each female rat, this was going on from the very conception to 21 days after offspring birth. There were three groups of rats: controls (without receiving any medication), and two groups of cases receiving 120 and 240mg/kg lecithin or its carriers respectively. On the 36 th day of birth and after sex-based segregation, offspring were trained in order to evaluate their recognition memory. The number of offspring in each group and for each sex was 7. Results: Results showed that among female offspring and comparing to controls, consumption of lecithin 240mg/kg by the mother led to increase in percentage of time spent near novel objects (p<0.05). Conclusion: Lecithin consumption during pregnancy and lactating can lead to change in precognitive memory of offspring and it seems that sex may have a role to play here.
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