Figure 1.

Experimental design. Experiments started 2 weeks before mating. Calorie-restricted rat dams received 80% of calories provided to the control group daily according to body weight (food restriction of 20%). Two weeks later, they were allowed to mate with males of the same strain. Food restriction continued up to gestational day 20 (GD 20). At birth postnatal day 0 (PN0), endocannabinoid and N-acylethanolamide (NAE) levels of male offspring were measured in hypothalamus, hippocampus and olfactory bulb. During lactation, rat dams from both groups continued on standard chow diet ad libitum. At PN 22–23 day, offspring were weaned on standard chow diet and rat dams were sacrificed. Behavioral studies (elevated plus maze, open field and chocolate preference test) were performed at adolescence (8th PN weeks). Chocolate preference was also reevaluated at adulthood (12–13th PN weeks). Adiposity was measured at 5th postnatal month. Caloric intake and weight gain were evaluated in rat dams and offspring during the entire duration of the experimental procedure.