Dendritic development in the neocortex of adult rats subjected to postnatal malnutrition

Dendritic Spine Pathology in Infants With Severe Protein-Calorie Malnutrition

“…8,9,20,23 Early undernutrition may also produce functional abnormalities in the central nervous system, because the development of neuro-nal interconnections appears to be retarded. 24 -27 There are a number of anatomic studies that provide information on the structural basis of these alterations: Cragg 8 in 1972 reported a retarded neuropil development; Cordero et al 10 in 1985 found a decreased dendritic arborization, and Gambetti et al 28 in 1974 showed a decrease in the size and density of the presynaptic endings. Other studies in experimental animals, mainly in the developing rat, demonstrate that in protein-calorie malnutrition, the number of dendritic spines in the cerebral cortex, including the dentate gyrus, is clearly diminished.…”

“…ndernutrition during early postnatal life produces a significant slowdown in the rate of central nervous system growth, 1,2 with lower brain weight, 3 thinner cerebral cortex, 4 diminished number of neurons, 5 deficient myelination, 6 poor dendritic arborization, and several changes in the microscopic features of spines such as a reduction in their width and number. [7][8][9][10][11] Although dendritic spines were described over a century ago, their role in neuronal function is still a matter of intensive study. It is known that the density of spines increases as the neuron develops and that they vary in size, number, and shape as a function of the history of the neuron, and that they degenerate in aged neurons.…”

Protein Malnutrition and Brain Development

“…Reduce cell proliferation in SGZin juvenils and adults Diminish performance in novel object recognition Increase depressive-like behavior [20] Rats, from 5 weeks before mating to birth P7 and P30 Reduced at P7 but increase at P30 BrDU+ cells in DG and hilus [21] Rats, from P0 to P30 P180 Reduce basal dentrites lenght and ramification in cortical layer V [25] Mice, from 6 weeks before mating to end of experiment P30,P90 and P220 Reduce visual cortex volume and thickness Changes on dendrites width and density and number of synapses depends on cortical layer [26] Rat, only gestation (pre), only lactation (post) or both (chron) P30-P90…”

“…However, whether the increased availability of glutamate in synaptic cleft might produce excitotoxic damage needs further investigation. Changes on glutamate due to protein malnutrition are accompanied by a reduction on length, number and complexity of dendrites on the cortex and CA3 region [15,25]. Similarly to glutamatergic system, the GABAergic neurons are differentially affected by perinatal protein malnutrition.…”

Nutritional Contributions to the CNS Pathophysiology of HIV-1 Infection and Implications for Treatment

“…During this period, the CNS is developing rapidly, and nutritional deficiencies could significantly alter components of the processes necessary for growth and development, as has been shown in animal research. 131 Moreover, malnutrition may also have a direct effect on socioemotional and behavioral development. 132 It has been argued that structures within the brain that are still being formed are more vulnerable and susceptible to disruption than structures that are already formed and functions that are already established.…”