Schulz et al., 2014 - Choline, Pregnancy, Lactation, prenatal stress -> adult anxiety

What is the hypothesis tested regarding perinatal choline in the study?

Perinatal choline counteracts the effects of prenatal stress on adult offspring anxiety-related behavior.

What were the three methods used to assess anxiety in the study?

Social interaction, open field, and elevated zero maze.

Generally, how did prenatal stress affect anxiety-like behavior in the study?

Prenatal stress significantly increased anxiety-like behavior in adult offspring.

Generally, how did choline supplementation affect anxiety-like behavior in the study?

Choline supplementation attenuated the effects of prenatal stress on anxiety in offspring.

What were the findings for female subjects in the Open Field Test?

Choline increased center visits, time in center, and distance traveled, indicating reduced anxiety.

What effects did prenatal stress have on male subjects in the study?

No significant effects of stress condition, diet, or interactions were observed.

What were the findings for female subjects in the Elevated Zero Maze?

Choline mitigated the anxiety-related behaviors displayed by prenatally stressed females.

How did prenatal stress affect body weight in the study?

Prenatal stress led to slightly reduced body weight in both sexes.

What implication does this study suggest about nutritional interventions during pregnancy?

Nutritional interventions, like choline supplementation, may reduce the risk of anxiety-related disorders in offspring.

What is suggested as a mechanism by which choline may affect behavior?

Increasing hippocampal neurogenesis and elevating neurotrophic factors.

What were the 2 types of anxiety assessed in the study?

Anxiogenic (anxiety caused by stressful stimuli)

Social anxiety

How was choline administered to rats in the study?

Dietary supplement in the chow

Describe in detail the stress protocol for Schulz et al., 2014.

Unpredictable variable stress 2–3 times daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the last week of gestation (prenatal days 14–21).

• restraint in cylindrical restrainers (30 min)

• swim in water at room temperature (15 min)

• social stress - 5 rats/cage (8–9 h)

• overnight fast

• exposure to loud radio static (80 db, 60 min)

• transport on a noisy cart (30 min)

Describe the study design.

2 (sex) x 2 (no/prenatal stress) x 3 (T, E2, or blank)

What are the 3 different explanations provided in Schulz et al (2014) for the effect of Choline on adult anxiety?

1. Increasing hippocampal neurogenesis.

2. Elevating neurotrophic factors (BDNF, NGF, IGF2)

3. Maintaining normative hippocampal nAChRs levels

How did they explain their failure to replicate the male weight gain due to PS that they observed previously?

Prenatal stress and the high-fat content of the Choline diet interacted to increase body weight in male rats.