Differential effects of perigestational consumption of sucrose‐sweetened beverages on anxiety and depression‐related behaviors in adult offspring: Sex disparity in a mouse model

• Published in: International journal of developmental neuroscience 2024-08, Vol.84 (5), p.434-445
• Main Authors: Ortiz‐Valladares, Minerva, Peregrino‐Ramírez, Christian, Pedraza‐Medina, Ricardo, Guzmán‐Muñiz, Jorge
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anxiety; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; depression; Depression - etiology; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Male; Mice; neurodevelopment; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Sex Characteristics; sucrose; Sucrose - administration & dosage; Sugar-Sweetened Beverages; Swimming - psychology
• ISSN: 0736-5748; 1873-474X; 1873-474X
• DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10347

Consumption of sucrose‐sweetened drinks (SSDs) during pregnancy and breastfeeding can lead to various health and metabolism issues, but the potential impact on neurodevelopment and long‐term effects remains unclear. This study aims to examine how maternal consumption of SSDs during gestation and lactation influences anxiety and depression‐related behavior in adult offspring. Adult female CD‐1 mice were randomly assigned to a control group (CG) or a sucrose group (SG) 2 weeks before gestation. The SG had 2 h of access to an SSD (15% w/w, 0.6 kcal/ml) for 2 weeks before mating, during pregnancy, and throughout lactation, totaling 8 weeks. Adult offspring were then evaluated for depressive‐related behaviors and anxiety‐related behaviors. Our findings reveal that perigestational consumption of SSDs does not lead to offspring presenting behaviors related to depression, but it does increase swimming behavior. However, maternal consumption of SSDs could impact the fighting response due to a diminished motivational component. In contrast, perigestational consumption of SSDs has apparent effects on anxiety‐related behavior. Furthermore, female offspring appeared to be particularly vulnerable, exhibiting a higher anxiety index compared with controls. These findings indicate that females could be more vulnerable to the effects of maternal consumption of SSDs, being more susceptible to the presence of anxiety‐related behaviors. Maternal consumption of sucrose‐sweetened drinks (SSDs) during pregnancy and breastfeeding may impact offspring behavior. This study on CD‐1 mice shows SSDs during perigestational period do not induce depression‐like behavior but increase swimming. It affects fighting response motivation and exacerbates anxiety, particularly in female offspring, suggesting heightened vulnerability to maternal SSD consumption.