The effect of sesame oil consumption during pregnancy and lactation on the memory of rat offspring in 30 days after birth.

Background: According to positive effect of sesame oil on the nervous system and because that fatty acids are essential for evolution of nervous system during pregnancy and for growth of neurons during lactation, in this study, effect of diet containing 10% sesame oil was evaluated on learning of rats at 30 days after birth. Material and Methods: In present study, adult female and male rats were divided into 2 groups (9 female and 3 male rats in each group): control group with usual diet and test group with diet containing 10% sesame oil were fed during pregnancy and lactation. Then male and female offspring of groups was examined at 30 days after birth using shuttle box. The results were analyzed using two way analysis of variance. Results: The average of latent time in entering to black box in start of learning in test group was less than control group (P<0/01). The average of latent time in entering to black box at 48 after learning in test group was higher than control group and the average of spend time in black box at 48 after learning in test group was less than control group P<0.001). Conclusion: The results showed that diet containing 10% sesame oil during pregnancy and lactation increased passive avoidance memory learning after 48 hour in rats at 30 days after birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]