Effects of Neonatal Undernutrition on Development of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Pyramidal Cells in the Rat

Carmen Torrero,Manuel Salas,Lorena Rubio,Mirelta Regalado

doi:10.4236/jbbs.2014.41007

Carmen Torrero, Manuel Salas + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.4236/jbbs.2014.41007

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Abstract

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) of the rat plays a role in the encoding of neuronal signals involved in conflict-induced behavioral adjustment, working memory, planning and executive abilities, attentional control and other cognitive responses. In altricial species, early perinatal undernutrition interferes with the morphofunctional organization of a number of central nervous system (CNS) structures including the prefrontal cortex. The effects of neonatal undernutrition on dendritic arbor density, perikaryon measurements, and the number of spines (detected by rapid-Golgi) of basilar dendritic segments in layer III pyramidal neurons of the dlPFC were examined in male Wistar rats on postnatal (PDs) 12, 20, and 30. In the underfed (U) subjects the distal portions of the dendritic arbors had a consistent hipoplasia, mainly on PD 30, with reduced cross sectional area, perimeter, and spine densities on the basilar dendrites on all days studied. Thus, the alterations of the dlPFC pyramidal neurons may interfere with the plastic synaptic activity and cognitive performance of rats subjected to the stress of early underfeeding. Characterizing these anatomical alterations may help to understand the disrupted cognitive processes associated with neonatal undernutrition.

Highlights

In rodents, perinatal food restriction interferes with the neocortical morphofunctional and subcortical synaptic organization of the brain and has short- and long-term behavioral, biochemical, and electrophysiological consequences that limit the expression of brain cognitive capabilities such as attentional processes, emotional and, maternal behavior, working memory, goal-directed behavior, and visuospatial learning among others [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]
The aim of this study was to test whether neonatal undernutrition and sensory deprivation are associated with a dendritic arbor hypoplasia in layer III dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) pyramidal neurons
The ANOVA comparisons between the experimental groups indicated significant body weight reductions in the Undernourished Group (UG) subjects compared to the Control Group (CG) animals, F(1,24) = 372.13, p < 0.0001, and body weight was affected by age, F(2,24) = 1613.17, p < 0.0001; there was a significant interaction diet by age, F(2,24) = 16.14, p < 0.0001

Summary

Introduction

Perinatal food restriction interferes with the neocortical morphofunctional and subcortical synaptic organization of the brain and has short- and long-term behavioral, biochemical, and electrophysiological consequences that limit the expression of brain cognitive capabilities such as attentional processes, emotional and, maternal behavior, working memory, goal-directed behavior, and visuospatial learning among others [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10] In this regard, alterations in the number and density of neocortical dendritic arbor, the reduced number of spines, and maldistribution of neurons may promote deficits in the neocortical connectivity, neuronal interactions, and the integration of complex physiological processes that may correlate with human brain disorders or abnormal adaptive behavior in animal models [11,12,13,14,15].

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