Maternal restraint stress during pregnancy negatively affect behaviours and antioxidant capacity in offspring rats (Rattus norvegicus)

This study was aiming to evaluate the effect of maternal restraint stress during gestation period on behaviours, biochemical parameters and antioxidant capacities of offspring rats (Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout,1769)) at weaning age. Behaviours, plasma biochemical indexes and antioxidant ability of liver, soleus and gastrocnemius muscle of mother and/or offspring rats were analyzed. Significant increases were found in offspring male rats’ immobility and swinging behaviour frequency, no difference was found in female rats’ behaviours. The antioxidant indexes including superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide synthase and total antioxidant capacity in soleus muscle of offspring male rats were significantly decreased in restraint group. Female offspring rats showed significant lower glutathione and higher malondialdehyde levels in gastrocnemius muscle and liver, respectively. No difference was found in maternal rats’ productive performance and plasma biochemical indexes, nor two groups of weaning rats’ biochemica...