DNA (cell number) in neonatal brain: second generation (F2) alteration by maternal (F0) dietary protein restriction.

Female rats were maintained on a protein-restricted diet 1 month prior to mating and throughout pregnancy. Their female offspring were maintained on a normal diet from birth or from weaning and were mated with normal males. The second generation offspring at birth still had significantly lower cerebral weight and total cerebral DNA (cerebral cell number).