162. THE EFFECT OF MATERNAL FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY ON NEURODEVELOPMENT, MOTOR FUNCTION AND BEHAVIOUR OF PROGENY IN THE RAT

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
B. L. Pearce ◽  
J. A. Owens ◽  
M. Dziadek ◽  
P. A. Grant ◽  
M. Wlodek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Open Field ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Field Test ◽  
Open Field Test ◽  
Folic Acid Supplementation ◽  
Exploratory Behaviour ◽  
Acid Supplementation ◽  
Righting Reflex ◽  
Eye Opening

Background: Maternal folic acid supplementation (mFAS) during early pregnancy is recommended to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects and has recently been associated with improved neurodevelopment in children. However, the effect on neurodevelopment of mFAS from before conception and throughout pregnancy is unknown. We examined the effect of mFAS throughout the gestational period on postnatal growth, neurodevelopment and early adult motor function and behaviour in rat offspring. Methods: Female Wistar Rats were fed either a control (folic acid 2mg/kg, n=6) or moderate mFAS diet (folic acid 6mg/kg, n=6) from two weeks before mating with Lewis males, until birth of progeny. Male and female progeny (Control=36, mFAS=36) were weighed on postnatal day (PD) 3, 7, 14, 21, 40 and 90, and underwent various tests between PD4 and 14: righting reflex, palm-grasp reflex, negative geotaxis, forelimb hanging, ascent test and eye opening. Locomotor/ exploratory behaviour, motor coordination and anxiety were assessed using an open field test (PD52), rotarod (PD55) and elevated plus maze (PD58) (Control=24, mFAS=24). Results: mFAS did not alter maternal weight gain, litter-size at birth or progeny growth between PD3-90. mFAS tended to increase righting reflex time (p=0.057) and impair ascent ability (p=0.085). Negative geotaxis time was reduced at PD7 but not later (Diet x Age p=0.051). mFAS increased the proportion of progeny with eyes open at PD14 (p=0.008) and tended to increase forelimb hanging time(p=0.097). mFAS did not alter motor learning/function (rotarod), but increased ambulatory and exploratory behaviour (open field test; p=0.027). Conclusions: mFAS delays some early aspects of neurodevelopment including neonatal postural reflex maturation and proprioceptive/vestibular function, but accelerates others such as eye opening. However, the open field test indicated that mFAS improved the offspring's locomotion and exploratory behaviours in adulthood. Further studies will differentiate the neurodevelopmental effects of mFAS around conception from gestation-long mFAS.

Evaluation of the Behavioural, Antioxidative and Histomorphological Effects of Folic Acid-Supplemented Diet in Dexamethasone-Induced Depression in Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Falade Joshua ◽  
Onaolapo Olakunle James ◽  
Onaolapo Adejoke Yetunde
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Folic Acid ◽  
Open Field ◽  
Folic Acid Supplementation ◽  
Tail Suspension ◽  
Acid Supplementation ◽  
Forced Swim ◽  
Immobility Time

Background: The effect of folic acid in mitigating depression has remained pivotal in research interest. Objectives: To determine the effects of folate supplementation on neurobehaviour oxidative stress, and cerebral cortex histomorphology in the dexamethasone mouse model of depression. Methodology: Male mice were assigned to six groups (A-F) of 10 mice each. Animals in groups A and D were fed standard diet, B and E, folic acid supplemented diet (25 mg/kg of feed), while C and F were fed folate supplemented diet at 50 mg/kg of feed for 8 weeks. At the beginning of the sixth 6th week mice in groups A-C, were administered distilled water, while animals in groups D-F were administered dexamethasone (DEX) at 4 mg/kg body weight by gavage. Open-field, forced swim, and tail- suspension tests were conducted at the end of the experimental period, following which animals were euthanised and blood taken for the estimation of Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced Glutathione, Glutathione Peroxidase, Catalase activity, and Superoxide Dismutase. Sections of the cerebral cortex were prepared for histological examination. Results: Folic acid supplementation increased body weight, locomotor, rearing and self-grooming behaviours, and decreased immobility time in the tail suspension and forced swim tests. There was also reduction of lipid peroxidation and an increase in antioxidant status. Folic acid supplementation was also protective against the development dexamethasone induced changes in body weight, open-field behaviours, behavioural despair, oxidative stress and cerebrocortical morphology. Conclusion: Folic-acid supplementation improves the behavioral, some antioxidant, and cerebral morphological parameters.

scholarly journals The Open Field Test

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vootele Voikar ◽  
s. Clare Stanford
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Open Field ◽  
Field Test ◽  
Open Field Test ◽  
Exploratory Behaviour ◽  
Biological Factors ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
General Locomotor Activity ◽  
Rats And Mice

The Open Field Test (OFT) is the most widely used method for observing the behaviour of mice and rats 18 under laboratory conditions. It is used to evaluate the exploratory behaviour, general locomotor activity 19 and emotionality of rats and mice. However, it has to be kept in mind that these behaviours are not 20 independent, they interact and so a change in one will affect another. Despite being a seemingly simple 21 test, several caveats need to be acknowledged when selecting the variables for analysis and interpreting 22 the data with regard to the aforementioned domains. The observed behaviours can depend on a number of 23 procedural, environmental and biological factors, which should be carefully considered when planning the 24 experiment, as well as during the analysis and interpretation of the results. This review provides a critical 25 overview of these factors, followed by some warnings and practical tips for conducting the OFT.

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