Maternal diet affects feeding behaviour of self-selected weanling rats

The basis of these studies is that weanling rats have been shown to regulate their intake in proteins when provided the opportunity. The objective was to determine the influence of protein concentration in the maternal diet on protein selection of the offspring. Mothers were fed single diets containing 10, 20, 30 or 40% casein throughout gestation and lactation. Pups from all groups were then allowed to select from diet containing 10 to 60% casein for two weeks. Protein selection in the weanling rats was found to correlate with the protein concentration in the maternal diet. In order to differentiate between diet during pregnancy and diet during lactation, a cross over study was performed. The conclusion is that feeding behaviour, as indicated by protein selection, is influenced by maternal diet during both gestation and lactation.