Dendritic branching of claustral neurons in neonatally undernourished rats.

Golgi-Cox-impregnated neurons of the claustrum were studied in control and undernourished Wistar strain rats at 12, 20, and 40 days of age. A reduced cross-sectional somatic area was observed in the 20-day-old undernourished rats and a significant reduction in the dendritic area was observed in the three ages studied. Dendritic arbor alteration was mainly observed in the number of high order and in the total number of dendritic branches of undernourished rats throughout the study. The data suggest vulnerability of the dendritic claustral growth process during the postnatal period to neonatal undernutrition. These alterations may be associated with telencephalic integrative impairments described in perinatal undernourished rats.