Serotonin and dopamine in the hypothalamus of control and malnourished mother rats during pregnancy and lactation and body composition of their offspring

Abstract

Changes observed in hypothalamic neurotransmitters appear to be closely related to nutritional status and to the response and control of PRL production, possibly to adapt the offspring to the metabolic changes. It was also confirmed that on-demand feeding of undernourished offspring is the main factor involved in nutritional recovery and a predisposition to overweight in the recovered undernourished animals.