Hypothalamic Nuclei Are Malformed in Weanling Offspring of Low Protein Malnourished Rat Dams

摘要: Maternal low protein malnutrition during gestation and lactation (LP) is an animal model frequently used for the investigation of long-term deleterious consequences perinatal growth retardation. Both retardation at birth are risk factors diabetic cardiovascular disturbances in later life. The pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible unknown. Hypothalamic nuclei decisively involved central nervous regulation food intake, body weight metabolism. We investigated effects a diet (8% protein; control diet, 17% protein) rat dams on organization hypothalamic regulators metabolism offspring weaning (d 20 life). LP had significantly lower than (CO; P: < 0.001), associated with hypoglycemia hypoinsulinemia (P: 0. 005) d This was accompanied by greater relative volume ventromedial nucleus 0.01) numerical density Nissl-stained neurons this as well paraventricular (PVN; 0.001). In contrast, no significant differences neuronal densities were observed generally lateral area, arcuate (ARC), dorsomedial between CO offspring. On other hand, displayed fewer immunopositive neuropeptide Y ARC 0.05), whereas PVN, galanin found compared contrary, group difference cholecystokinin-8S-positive present. A effect these specific alterations life suggested.