Neuromotor Development in Progeny of Underfed Mother Rats

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Abstract
The neuromotor development of progeny from mothers subjected to 50% dietary restriction during either 1) gestation and lactation or 2) gestation alone, and of appropriate control progeny was observed twice each week from week 1 to week 7 of life. The ages at which several coordinated movements, behavior patterns and reflex responses first appeared were recorded for experimental progeny and their controls. The longer period of maternal dietary restriction resulted in developmental delays of as much as 2 weeks, and lesser but consistent delays occurred after the more limited restriction. In addition, several clearly abnormal types of activity occurred in both types of experimental progeny, but never at any time in the controls. The delays and abnormalities in the progeny of mothers restricted during gestation alone were not accompanied by corresponding deficits in weight during the period of observation. The results demonstrate that these aspects of neuromotor integration do not necessarily bear a close relationship to chronological age.