Paula-Barbosa M M, Andrade J P, Castedo J L, Azevedo F P, Camões I, Volk B, Tavares M A
Department of Anatomy, Oporto Medical School, Porto, Portugal.
Exp Neurol. 1989 Feb;103(2):186-93. doi: 10.1016/0014-4886(89)90081-2.
Whereas quite a number of previous reports have shown that the developing brain is vulnerable to protein deprivation, the mature CNS is usually considered resistant to this condition. To explore this assumption the present experimental model was built on groups of 2-month-old rats fed with a low-protein diet (8% casein) for 6, 12, and 18 months and respective age-matched controls fed for the same periods with a standard laboratory chow (27% casein). The numerical density of cerebellar granule cells was estimated using three different stereological procedures (classical, unfolding, and disector). By all methods a significant cell loss was demonstrated. In the hippocampal region the numerical densities of dentate gyrus granule cells and the CA3 pyramidal cells were estimated using the unbiased disector method. A significative and progressive loss of neurons was likewise found. The occurrence of cell loss after lengthy periods of undernutrition in adulthood is thus an issue of paramount importance if extrapolation can be made to the human brain.
尽管此前有相当多的报告表明，发育中的大脑易受蛋白质缺乏的影响，但成熟的中枢神经系统通常被认为对这种情况具有抵抗力。为了探究这一假设，本实验模型基于两组2个月大的大鼠构建，一组喂食低蛋白饮食（8%酪蛋白），持续6、12和18个月，另一组为年龄匹配的对照组，在相同时间段内喂食标准实验室饲料（27%酪蛋白）。使用三种不同的体视学方法（经典法、展开法和分割法）估计小脑颗粒细胞的数量密度。通过所有方法均证实存在显著的细胞损失。在海马区，使用无偏分割法估计齿状回颗粒细胞和CA3锥体细胞的数量密度。同样发现神经元存在显著且渐进性的损失。因此，如果能够外推至人类大脑，成年期长期营养不良后出现细胞损失这一问题至关重要。
