Chronic early leucine administration induces behavioral deficits in rats

Sustained levels of leucine comparable to those of human Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) were achieved in blood and brain of rats by subcutaneous leu cine administration twice a day from the 6(th) to the 28(th) day of life. C ontrol rats were treated with saline in the same volumes. Behavioral studie s using aversive and nonaversive tasks were performed during adult age. Chr onic early leucine treatment impaired acquisition of a two-way shuttle avoi dance task and altered habituation to an open field. Our results suggest th at early postnatal leucine administration induces long-lasting behavioral d eficits.