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Differential vulnerability of the rat retina, suprachiasmatic nucleus and intergeniculate leaflet to malnutrition induced during brain development.
- Source :
-
Brain research bulletin [Brain Res Bull] 2005 Jan 15; Vol. 64 (5), pp. 395-408. - Publication Year :
- 2005
-
Abstract
- We investigated in young rats the effects of malnutrition on the main structures of the circadian timing system: retina, hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), thalamic intergeniculate leaflet, retinohypothalamic- and geniculohypothalamic tracts. Control rats were born from mothers fed a commercial diet since gestation, and malnourished rats from mothers fed a multideficient diet since gestation (GLA group) or lactation (LA group). After weaning, pups received the same diet as their mothers, and were analysed at postnatal days 27, 30-33 and 60-63. Brain sections were processed to visualise in the SCN neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity and terminal labeling after intraocular tracer injections. Nissl staining was used to assess cytoarchitectonic boundaries of the SCN and cell features in retinal whole mounts. Cell counts, morphometric and densitometric analysis were performed. Compared with controls, the total retinal surface was reduced and the topographical distribution of retinal ganglion cells was altered in malnourished rats, with changes in their density. Alterations were also detected in the SCN dimensions in the GLA and LA groups at one and two postnatal months, as well as in the SCN portion occupied by the retinal input in the GLA group at days 30-33, but not in the NPY-containing geniculohypothalamic tract. The present data point to subtle changes, with a low and differential vulnerability to early malnutrition, of structures involved in circadian timing regulation. Furthermore, the present findings suggest that the altered circadian rhythmicity previously documented in malnourished rats cannot be ascribed to impaired development of the retino- and geniculohypothalamic projections to the SCN.
- Subjects :
- Age Factors
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Body Weight physiology
Brain cytology
Brain growth & development
Brain metabolism
Cell Count methods
Cell Size
Female
Geniculate Bodies anatomy & histology
Geniculate Bodies growth & development
Geniculate Bodies metabolism
Immunohistochemistry methods
Lactation
Male
Neural Pathways growth & development
Neural Pathways pathology
Neurons metabolism
Neurons pathology
Neuropeptide Y metabolism
Organ Size physiology
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Retina cytology
Retina growth & development
Retina metabolism
Sex Factors
Staining and Labeling methods
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus growth & development
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus metabolism
Brain pathology
Geniculate Bodies pathology
Malnutrition pathology
Retina pathology
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus pathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0361-9230
- Volume :
- 64
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Brain research bulletin
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 15607827
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2004.09.011