Impact of early maternal separation on the rat offspring cerebellum and basal ganglia and the potential neuroprotective role of Lactium

Background Maternal separation is a common animal model of early-life stress. Exposure to abnormal experiences in early development can affect the neurobiological parameters of the brain and manifest as behavioral alterations. Lactium is a milk protein that has been shown to have anxiolytic and antistress effects. This study aimed to determine the role of Lactium in mitigating structural changes of cerebellum and basal ganglia in a rat model of developmental trauma evoked by mother deprivation. Methods Forty male rat offspring were initially allocated to four groups (10/group): IA, untreated control; IB, Lactium-only control; IIA, maternal separation; and IIB, maternal separation plus Lactium. Because of mortality, seven animals per group were recorded in the final analyses. After recording weight, appetite changes, and behavioral tests, on postnatal day 51 (P51), tissue samples from the cerebellum and basal ganglia were collected and stained with H&E. Immunohistochemistry (GFAP and caspase3) and morphometric analyses were performed. Results Maternal separation was associated with lower body weight, altered behavior, neuronal degeneration, increased GFAP and caspase-3 immunoreactivity=, whereas Lactium treatment after separation partially improved these outcomes. Conclusion Oral administration of Lactium in rat offspring experiencing early maternal separation-induced early life stress yielded significant histological, immunohistochemical, and neurobehavioral improvements.