Malnutrition in early life and later neurodevelopmental disability

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25504011
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Integrated Nutrition Science
• Research Institution: Jichi Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Shiro Suda 自治医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (40432207)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KATSUTOSHI SHIODA 自治医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (40398516) ; MASAKI NISHIDA 自治医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (10424029)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): NORI TAKEI 浜松医科大学, 子どものこころの発達研究センター, 教授 (80206937)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 胎生期低栄養 / 統合失調症 / 発症脆弱性 / 動物モデル / エピジェネティクス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Evidences from both of neurobiological and epidemiological studies raise the possibility that malnutrition in early life could lead to the later development of physical as well as psychiatric disorders. In the present study, we examined the effect of food deprivation during pregnancy, to simulate maternal malnutrition, on later neurodevelopment and behavioral disturbance in the rat. The results suggest that exposure to maternal nutrient-restriction in utero is associated with decreased neurogenesis in the hippocampus in the adult rat. Furthermore, behavioral studies revealed that food deprivation during pregnancy had significant effects on maternal behaviors. These results are suggestive of possible involvement of malnutrition in early life in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders.

Free Research Field

分子精神医学、うつ病、発達障害