Open Field Studies in Offspring of Underfed Mother Rats

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Abstract
Two groups of 26-week-old male rats were given open field box tests. One group of 12 were controls; the second group of 9 were animals born of dams whose diet was restricted during gestation. After birth these animals were nursed by foster mothers who were fed ad libitum during their pregnancy and thereafter. All subject animals were fed ad libitum after weaning. The experimental group exhibited heightened emotional behavior and decreased activity. There were marked differences in all indices recorded during the experimental period of 27 trials, with major criteria (activity, time in center square, fecal boli) significantly different between groups.