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Differential Effects of Protein-Calorie Restriction and Subsequent Repletion on Neuronal and Nonneuronal Components of Cerebral Cortex in Newborn Rats¹

School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024 and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033

The effect of protein-calorie restriction (PCR) and subsequent repletion on the somatosensory area of the cerebral cortex in newborn rats was investigated. Newborn rats were subjected to either prenatal restriction by lowering protein content of maternal diet from 27 to 8% casein, or 10 days of postnatal deprivation by increasing the number of suckling animals to 18 per litter. Both groups were then given adequate nutrition until 21 days of age. Body weight, brain weight and volume were significantly decreased at 10 days in both experimental groups as compared to control animals, and these parameters were not completely normal by 21 days after birth. Quantitative differential cell count of the somatosensory cortex indicated that PCR reduces nonneuronal components of the cerebral cortex to a greater extent than the neurons. Partial recovery after adequate nutrition was due mainly to an increase in the number of glial and endothelial cells of the cerebral cortex. Prenatal PCR resulted in a greater permanent residual deficiency than postnatal restriction.

KEY WORDS: • protein-calorie malnutrition • cerebral cortex • neurons • glia

¹ From a thesis submitted by Feridoun Siassi in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree M.S. in Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, 1971.

Manuscript received 24 July 1973.