Rat mothers in enriching environments give birth to larger offspring, are more efficient parents, and have heartier breastmilk, compared to mothers in standard laboratory housing, according to research published in eNeuro.
Rats born to mothers in an enriched environment with new, interesting toys and things to explore have higher body weights and are more social than those born in standard laboratory housing.
But this effect disappears when a rat born to an enriched mother is brought up by a standard-housed mother, a sign something in the postnatal environment is driving the benefit — something like breastmilk.
The researchers monitored the behaviors and examined the breastmilk of mothers in enriched and standard environments.
The enriched mothers were more efficient: they spent less time at the nest, like rats in the wild, but still groomed and nursed their offspring enough.
The two types of moms did not differ in food consumption or body weight, but milk from the enriched mothers contained increased levels of triglyceride, a main source of energy. The milk also had greater microbiome diversity, including more bacteria linked to bodyweight and metabolism.
These results highlight how external influences on the mother can impact the offspring via breastmilk and showcase the importance of enriched environments when studying rats.
https://www.eneuro.org/content/early/2022/07/21/ENEURO.0148-22.2022
http://sciencemission.com/site/index.php?page=news&type=view&id=publications%2Fmilking-it-for-all-it-s&filter=22
The environment alters breastmilk and offspring social behavior in rats
- 1,325 views
- Added
Latest News
Citrullination is a key pla…
By newseditor
Posted 14 Sep
Senolytic therapy clinical…
By newseditor
Posted 14 Sep
Genetic tools probe microbi…
By newseditor
Posted 13 Sep
A secret passage for mutant…
By newseditor
Posted 11 Sep
Specialized T cells in the…
By newseditor
Posted 10 Sep
Other Top Stories
How gene mutation boosts cancer risk
Read more
Arginine enhances radiation therapy efficiency in brain tumors
Read more
Genomic alterations in advanced cancers reveal interactions with th…
Read more
The whole organ imaging to study prostate cancer
Read more
Key factor sustaining malignant tumor state identified
Read more
Protocols
Genetic manipulation of Pat…
By newseditor
Posted 13 Sep
Single-nucleus RNA sequenci…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Sep
Engineering RNA export for…
By newseditor
Posted 25 Aug
ATP production from electri…
By newseditor
Posted 21 Aug
Labeling PIEZO2 activity in…
By newseditor
Posted 20 Aug
Publications
Timing of lifespan influenc…
By newseditor
Posted 16 Sep
Transformer-based biomarker…
By newseditor
Posted 16 Sep
Somatic variants of MAP3K3…
By newseditor
Posted 16 Sep
The NLRP3 inflammasome and…
By newseditor
Posted 15 Sep
Targeting the metabolism of…
By newseditor
Posted 15 Sep
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar