Visual discrimination in rats: The effects of rehabilitation following intergenrational malnutrition

Abstract

The effect of rehabilitation following intergenerational malnutrition in rats was observed using 3 tests of visual discrimination (Lashley tests). The following groups were studied at 3 months of age: animals nutritionally deprived of protein for many generations (intergenerational malnutrition), those from the same stock rehabilitated for 1 to 2 generations at an adequate protein level, and controls from a stock never exposed to malnutrition. Males rehabilitated for 2 generations showed some improvement in performance in the Lashley tests, but did not attain the level of well‐nourished controls. In agreement with the earlier data, females were less susceptible to behavioral deficits from intergenerational malnutrition and recovery was observed after 1 generation of rehabilitation. Growth of both males and females rehabilitated for 1 or 2 generations was superior to that of control rats.