Paternal calorie restriction prior to conception alters anxiety-like behavior of the adult rat progeny.

•Paternal influences on adult offspring anxiety-like behavior was examined.•Paternal calorie restriction (CR) decreased the anxiety behavior of the progeny.•Food intake, body weight and leptin levels was reduced in the offspring of CR males.•Paternal corticosterone treatment failed to alter offspring behavior.•CR offspring exhibit a profile adapted to an environment of limited food supply.