The Effect of Maternal Overnutrition on Reward and Anxiety in Offspring

Abstract

Obesity has reached epidemic levels in developed countries. Maternal overnutrition has been linked to a number of poor health outcomes in offspring, including metabolic, cardiovascular and mental disorders, some of which do not become apparent until later in life. In particular, maternal overnutrition is linked to increased risk for hedonic and stress dysfunctions. Previous studies in animal models indicate that maternal overnutrition, typically using a diet high in fat, impacts the function of the mesolimbic pathway, leading to attenuated function of the reward system and decreased dopamine-related behaviour. Also maternal overnutrition affects the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, leading to activated stress system and increased anxiety-like behaviour. This chapter focuses on what is known about the effects of maternal intake of high-fat diet on the reward and stress systems in offspring brain and behaviour. We discuss the likely role of epigenetic regulation of these pathways in the long-term changes in brain function associated with the perinatal environment.