The aim of this work was to evaluate the behavioral parameters and the GABAergic signalingin the hypothalamus, midbrain and medulla. Mothers and litters were distributed into 3groups: Control (CO) fed with standard diet (20% protein), food restriction (FR) withstandard diet limited of 50% of the daily consumption of CO, and low-protein (LP) fed withLP-diet (4% protein). Interventions were carried out from the 1st-14th, and 14 th -21st day oflactation. Offspring of both sexes were evaluated until 120 days old by elevated plus maze(EPM) and open field (OP) test. Male LP rats showed a decrease in the closed arm (CO158±11.51 vs LP 105.5±9.63; s), an increase in the open arm (CO 85.10±8.65 vs LP139.8±12.36; s) time, and in the number of open arm entries (CO 5.25±0.58 vs LP 8.40±0.79;a.u.) compared to the CO. In OP, male LP rats showed an increase in crossings (CO51.94±4.29 vs LP 71±3.41; a.u.) and in the frequency of crossings (CO 51.94±4.29 vs69.25±4.44; a.u.) compared to the CO. Male FR showed a decrease in the expression ofGABA B receptors (CO 100±12.60 vs FR 56.34 v 4.19; % control). In the midbrain, male LPand FR showed a decrease in GAD (CO 100±11.22 vs LP 47.59±6.21 vs FR 74.18±8.82; %control) compared to the CO. In conclusion, maternal protein and caloric restriction duringlactation induces less anxious behavior and increases exploratory activity in males inadulthood, through modulation in GABAergic signaling.