Maternal Undernutrition in Rats Affects Hippocampal Development through Inhibition of Neurogenin 1

Maternal undernutrition (UN) in rats inhibits neurologic development in offspring. To investigate these alterations we compared hippocampal global gene expression profiles of UN and control newborn pups. Whole transcriptome microarray analysis revealed significant changes in the expression of several genes including Neurogenin1 (Ngn1), a known neuro developmental regulatory factor. Expression of Ngn1 in the UN hippocampus was nearly 70% reduced. Western blot analysis using antibodies against Ngn1 protein, also showed more than a 50% decrease in the protein expression of Ngn1 in the hippocampus of UN newborn pups. Previously it was demonstrated that Ngn1 expression may be controlled through Notch pathway feedback inhibition.