<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Walnut (<italic>Juglans regia</italic>) from the Juglandaceae family contains high levels of omega 3 fatty acid, vitamin E and melatonin, hence its consumption is beneficial to would be mothers and their offspring. The current study was designed to determine the possible mechanism of walnut consumption by mothers during pregnancy and lactation and the positive effects on learning and memory processes in their offspring. Wistar adult female rats were placed into three groups: control (fed with pellet, 20 g daily during pregnancy and lactation), CASE 1 [fed with Walnut Kernel (WK) 6% of food intake during pregnancy and lactation] and CASE 2 (fed with WK, 9% of food intake during gestation and lactation). In order to evaluate offspring learning and memory, the Morris Water Maze (MWM) test was performed for their adult offspring at 80 days of age. Histological and molecular studies were utilized in order to discover the protective mechanism and efficacy of WK consumption. The results revealed that learning was significantly improved in the females of CASE 2, in comparison to controls, while there was no difference in memory among the different groups. In addition, the number of neurons significantly increased in the CASE 2 group compared to the control group. However, the molecular study demonstrated that there was no significant difference among the study groups. The results herein show that feeding mothers with WK may improve the learning competence of their pups and increase the number of neurons in both sexes.</p>
</abstract>

Walnut (Juglans regia) from the Juglandaceae family contains high levels of omega 3 fatty acid, vitamin E and melatonin, hence its consumption is beneficial to would be mothers and their offspring. The current study was designed to determine the possible mechanism of walnut consumption by mothers during pregnancy and lactation and the positive effects on learning and memory processes in their offspring. Wistar adult female rats were placed into three groups: control (fed with pellet, 20 g daily during pregnancy and lactation), CASE 1 [fed with Walnut Kernel (WK) 6% of food intake during pregnancy and lactation] and CASE 2 (fed with WK, 9% of food intake during gestation and lactation). In order to evaluate offspring learning and memory, the Morris Water Maze (MWM) test was performed for their adult offspring at 80 days of age. Histological and molecular studies were utilized in order to discover the protective mechanism and efficacy of WK consumption. The results revealed that learning was significantly improved in the females of CASE 2, in comparison to controls, while there was no difference in memory among the different groups. In addition, the number of neurons significantly increased in the CASE 2 group compared to the control group. However, the molecular study demonstrated that there was no significant difference among the study groups. The results herein show that feeding mothers with WK may improve the learning competence of their pups and increase the number of neurons in both sexes.

Walnut Kernel administration to mothers during pregnancy and lactation improve learning of their pups. Changes in number of neurons and gene expression of NMDA receptor and BDNF in hippocampus in 80 days rat pups

Department of Cell Biology Research Center

ENT and Head & Neck Research Center and Department

Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Branch of Kerman

Current Issues in Pharmacy and Medical Sciences

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Walnut (Juglans regia) from the Juglandaceae family contains high levels of omega 3 fatty acid, vitamin E and melatonin, hence its consumption is beneficial to...

Walnut Kernel administration to mothers during pregnancy and lactation improve learning of their pups. Changes in number of neurons and gene expression of NMDA receptor and BDNF in hippocampus in 80 days rat pups

Published Online: Jan 29, 2021

Page range: 219 - 224

Received: Aug 25, 2019

Accepted: Jun 04, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cipms-2020-0031

Keywords
rat, memory, Walnut, learning, BDNF, NMDA-R, offspring

© 2020 Zahra Mahmoodian et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Walnut Kernel administration to mothers during pregnancy and lactation improve learning of their pups. Changes in number of neurons and gene expression of NMDA receptor and BDNF in hippocampus in 80 days rat pups

Published Online: Jan 29, 2021

Page range: 219 - 224

Received: Aug 25, 2019

Accepted: Jun 04, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cipms-2020-0031

Keywordsrat, memory, Walnut, learning, BDNF, NMDA-R, offspring

© 2020 Zahra Mahmoodian et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
rat, memory, Walnut, learning, BDNF, NMDA-R, offspring