Prolonged maternal separation induces undernutrition and systemic inflammation with disrupted hippocampal development in mice.

Objective: Prolonged maternal separation (PMS) in the first 2 wk of life has been associated with poor growth with lasting effects in brain structure and function. This study aimed to investigate whether PMS-induced undernutrition could cause systemic inflammation and changes in nutrition-related hormonal levels, affecting hippocampal structure and neurotransmission in C57BL/6J suckling mice.

Methods: This study assessed mouse growth parameters coupled with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) serum levels.