Low protein diet during perinatal period decreasesthe number of subepicardial neurons in rats

ABSTRACT

Subepicardial plexus of the atria is an interdependent heart control system and its structure and functionmay be influenced by external factors. We studied the influence of protein deprivation on subepicardialneurons at early development stages by subjecting rats to a low protein diet (5% of casein) during pre and postnatal period. Atrial neurons were identified by histochemical methods b-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NADH) reaction, b-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-d) reaction andAcetylcholinesterase (AChE) reaction and counted in 21 day-old rats. Besides a significant reduction in bodyand heart weight, the total number of neurons decreased 46% in the undernourished group as compared tocontrol animals. Our data suggest that deficient nutrition during early developmental period may produceirreversible deleterious changes later in life.