Streptozotocin-induced diabetes during gestation and post-partum: effects on behavior and hippocampal plasticity in female Wistar rats.

Gestational Diabetes (GD) is associated with cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, and post-partum depression. The mechanisms underlying such changes are poorly understood. It is not known whether animal models of GD can replicate the dysfunction observed in humans. In this pilot study, we evaluated whether a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced model of gestational diabetes reproduces postpartum anxiety-like behavior and learning and memory impairments. Female Wistar rats were assigned to the control (n = 14) and STZ (n = 10) groups. After weaning, maternal anxiety behavior was evaluated using the Elevated Plus Maze and Open Field, memory using Novel Object Recognition and Morris Water Maze, and learning using Morris Water Maze. As a post hoc analysis, given its association with memory and learning, hippocampal neurogenesis was evaluated by RT‑qPCR of mRNA levels of Cdk5, Reln, Bdnf, and Gad1 and by estimating the numerical density of DCX‑immunoreactive neurons in the dentate gyrus. No robust behavioral differences were detected between STZ dams and controls in the anxiety-, learning-, and memory-related tasks. Exploratory molecular and histological analyses suggested increased hippocampal BDNF mRNA expression and higher DCX-positive neuronal density in STZ dams, warranting further investigation of hippocampal plasticity-related mechanisms following gestational diabetes.