Stress During Lactation: A Hidden Link to Offspring Bone Health.

ABSTRACT: Early-life resource limitation is one factor that could have a major impact on child health and development. Thus, using a rat model of limited bedding and nesting (LBN), we investigated the postnatal bone development, mineralization, and microarchitecture. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a LBN model to induce chronic early-life stress (CES), while a control group was maintained under standard conditions. The offspring were assessed at postnatal day (PND) 10, 21, and 35. Tibial length was measured, and tibial and lumbar vertebral bone mineral density (BMD), content (BMC), and area (BMA) were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Bone microarchitecture was examined using microcomputed tomography (μCT). Changes in gene expression from the lumbar vertebrae were

SUBMITTER: Chandrashekar R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12125145 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature