Maternal food restriction: Effects on offspring behavior and development

Pregnant rats were placed on reduced food intake or remained on adequate diet during gestation and lactation. Offspring were cross‐fostered to provide for independent experiences of prenatal and/or postnatal mother malnutrition. All offspring were placed on an ad lib diet at time of weaning. When evaluated in adulthood, offspring whose mother was food‐deprived during the lactation period showed body weight deficits and increased errors on the Hebb‐Williams maze as compared to controls. There were no observed effects of the prenatal deprivation.