biostudies-literatureDeRosa HHHS | NIH | National Institute of Mental HealthMCPHS Center for Undergraduate Research FellowshipNIMH NIH HHSENEURO.0148-22.2022https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9417599biostudies-literatureUnknown9(4)Breastfeeding confers robust benefits to offspring development in terms of growth, immunity, and neurophysiology. Similarly, improving environmental complexity, i.e., environmental enrichment (EE), contributes developmental advantages to both humans and laboratory animal models. However, the impact of environmental context on maternal care and milk quality has not been thoroughly evaluated, nor are the biological underpinnings of EE on offspring development understood. Here, Sprague Dawley rats were housed and bred in either EE or standard-housed (SD) conditions. EE dams gave birth to a larger number of pups, and litters were standardized and cross-fostered across groups on postnatal day (P)1. Maternal milk samples were then collected on P1 (transitional milk phase) and P10 (mature milk pheNeuroMilking It for All It's Worth: The Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Maternal Nurturance, Lactation Quality, and Offspring Social Behavior.PMC9417599R15MH114035R15 MH114035DeRosa HMarrocco JKentner ACTran HCaradonna SGfalseMilking It for All It's Worth: The Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Maternal Nurturance, Lactation Quality, and Offspring Social Behavior.Breastfeeding confers robust benefits to offspring development in terms of growth, immunity, and neurophysiology. Similarly, improving environmental complexity, i.e., environmental enrichment (EE), contributes developmental advantages to both humans and laboratory animal models. However, the impact of environmental context on maternal care and milk quality has not been thoroughly evaluated, nor are the biological underpinnings of EE on offspring development understood. Here, Sprague Dawley rats were housed and bred in either EE or standard-housed (SD) conditions. EE dams gave birth to a larger number of pups, and litters were standardized and cross-fostered across groups on postnatal day (P)1. Maternal milk samples were then collected on P1 (transitional milk phase) and P10 (mature milk ph2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Jul-Aug2026-06-15T05:45:31.361Z2025-04-06T01:50:59.225ZS-EPMC94175993599556010.1523/ENEURO.0148-22.2022