Parent animals were male and nulliparous female Wistar rats (90–120 days old) from our own breeding center. They were maintained under constant temperature (22° ± 1 °C) and humidity (50–60%) conditions in a 12 L:12D cycle (lights on at 7:00 h) and with food and water ad libitum. In the evening of the proestrus day, they were housed overnight with the male rats. The presence of spermatozoa in the vaginal smears was registered as an index of pregnancy and was referred to as gestational day 0 (GD 0). Pregnant females were weighted and housed individually in boxes and were randomly assigned to one of the three following groups: control group (n = 10), F treated group with 5 mg/l in drinking water (n = 10) and F treated group with 10 mg/l in drinking water (n = 10), equivalent to doses of 0.6 and 1.2 mg/kg, respectively. Drinking water was changed daily. Maternal weight gain and food intake were recorded on different gestational days (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 20) and postgestational days (1, 4, 7, 10,13, 16, 19, and 21). Drink consumption was recorded daily. Within 24 h after delivery, all pups were weighted and litters were randomly culled to five males and five females whenever possible. Gestation length, litter size and body weight of pups at different postnatal days (1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19 and 21) were analysed. Offspring were weaned and housed in groups of six rats according to sex and treatment.One male and one female from each litter were used for the neurobehavioral tests.