Quantitative changes in the V2 lateral visual cortex in developing rats with induced protein malnutrition

ABSTRACT

In this paper we have analyzed the quantitative changes in the lateral visual cortex V2 (V2L) from developing rats with induced isocaloric protein malnutrition that looks like Kwashiorkor condition, as well as the changes induced after refeeding. Using stereological techniques the cortical volume, numerical density and the absolute number of neurons and the average neuronal volume were estimated. The result obtained led us to the following conclusions: i) A significant enlargement in the ratio between brain weight and body weight was detected, disappearing after refeeding. ii) The volume of the cerebral cortex, and V2L was reduced. This was partially reversed by the refeeding at the level of the cerebral cortex, but there was not significant reversal in V2L. iii) The neuronal density was enlarged in V2L. Globally considered, this parameter was unchanged after refeeding. Nevertheless, in those animals refed from post-gestational age P0 the numerical density of neurons was significantly lower than in rats refed from post-gestational age P21. iv) The absolute number of neurons and their average volume was unchanged in V2L. Nevertheless, the average neuronal volume was significantly lower in rats with more than thirty days of postgestational age (>P30) in comparison with the rats with less than thirty days of post-gestational age (greater than or equal to P30). v). No differences regarding sex were observed at the level of the studied parameter

RESUMEN

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