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Effect of Undernutrition on the Size and Composition of the Rat Brain^1,2,

Muscatatuck State Hospital, Butlerville, Indiana

This study was designed to determine the effects of various periods of undernutrition on the growth and composition of the rat brain. Values for body weight, brain weight and total DNA, RNA, lipid and protein in the brains of rats on restricted feed consumption from 5 until 11, 17 and 60 days of age were significantly lower than the values for age-matched controls in each case. Also, the total cholesterol, phospholipid and cerebroside content of the brains of rats on restricted feeding until 60 days of age was lower than values obtained for brains of age-matched controls. Animals on restricted feed intake until at least 17 days of age did not recover any brain DNA or RNA when fed ad libitum until 110 days of age. Animals on restricted feed intake until 11, 17 or 60 days of age, then fed ad libitum until 110 days of age, did partially recover their deficit in brain weight and total brain protein and lipid, but these values were still significantly lower than normal. Also, the percentage of lipid in all of these brains remained significantly lower than normal. Similarly, the total amount and the percentage of phospholipid, cholesterol and cerebroside remained significantly lower than normal in the brains of rats undernourished until 60 days of age then fed ad libitum from 60 until 110 days of age. Of three major brain regions examined, restricted feeding affected the weight and DNA content of the cerebellum most severely.

² Supported by Public Health Service Research Grant no. NB-05262 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness.

Manuscript received 31 May 1968.

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