The morphological and developmental changes of the anterior commissure of male Wistar rats submitted to protein malnutrition in the postnatal period

Abstract

The aim of this project was to study the effects of protein malnutrition in the anterior commissure of male albino Wistar rats, submitted to diets with different levels of protein to evaluate the possible morphological and developmental changes of the myelinated nervous fibers and glial cells of this important neural structure during the postnatal period until 120 days of age. In this study the animals (dams and pups) were divided into three groups: the control group which received a commercial diet from the laboratory (22% protein); the nourished group which received a diet of 16% of protein (casein); and the malnourished group which received a diet of 6% of protein (casein). Rat pups were fed by lactating females during the lactation period. After weaning the pups received the same diet until 120 days of age. The results obtained showed that the malnourished animals presented less body and brain growth and important morphological changes in the anterior commissure such as the retard in the myelination, damaged myelinic nervous fibers, and the increase of the interstitial space characterizing edema and vacuolization. The current study shows that the effects of protein malnutrition in the anterior commissure cause a bigger alteration in the posterior limb of the referred commissure, indicating that it is more vulnerable to malnutrition and more susceptible to damages of the anterior limb.

Keywords:

• Anterior commissure
• Development
• Glial cells
• Myelin
• Protein malnutrition

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Maria Tereza P. Maglia for technical assistance. P. A. P. Pacagnella and P. M. S. D. Parpinelli were the recipients of a fellowship from the Capes.