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J Galler

Publications and source records attributed to J Galler.

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Effects of prenatal protein malnutrition on mossy fibers of the hippocampal formation in rats of four age groups.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of prenatal protein deprivation on the postnatal development of the mossy fiber plexus of the hippocampal formation on postnatal (P) days 15, 30, 90, and 220. Although there is extensive information about the effects of malnutrition on cell body and dendrite morphology, little attention has been paid to axons or axon plexuses. The mossy fiber plexus represents the dentate gyrus granule cell axonal projection to areas CA4 and CA3 of the hippocampal formation and is readily demonstrated with Timm's heavy metal stain. With the use of this stain, the plexus was measured at 13 levels throughout the hippocampal complex. There was no effect of the diet on the anatomical distribution of the plexus. The current study, however, does show significant effects of prenatal protein malnutrition on postnatal development of the mossy fiber plexus that are age dependent. The prenatally malnourished rats show significant deficits in the total rostro-caudal extent and volume of the plexus on P15, P90, and P220, with the most marked dietary effect on P220. There was no significant diet effect on P30 in either extent or volume.

Analysis of Variance

Effects of prenatal protein malnutrition on hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells in rats of four age groups.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of prenatal protein deprivation on area CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells on postnatal (P) days 15, 30, 90 and 220 using Golgi techniques. Age related changes in both groups and diet related changes between groups were assessed. There were significant diet effects at all four ages, with one of 12 different measurements showing a significant diet effect on P15, five on P30, one on P90, and seven on P220. The most marked effect of the diet was on pyramidal cell dendrite spine density in the stratum moleculare and stratum radiatum, with a different pattern of diet effects in the two strata. In pyramidal cell dendrites in the stratum moleculare, there was a deficit in spine density that was significant at three of the four ages and there were similar age-related changes in the two diet groups. Spines on pyramidal cell dendrites in the stratum radiatum showed a lack of synchrony of age-related changes in the two diet groups, with an increased spine density in the malnourished rats on P30 and a widening deficit in this parameter on P90 and P220. The bimodal distribution to these changes, with most marked deficits occurring on P30 and P220, with an intervening period of apparent "catch-up" on P90, is of interest and may be a significant brain adaptation to malnutrition. The present study is the final of three morphometric studies on the effect of prenatal protein restriction on three key neurons in the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit. When compared to our previous studies on the dentate granule cell and the CA3 pyramidal cell, it is noted that there is an effect of the low protein diet on all these neurons, with the most marked effect on the predominantly postnatally generated dentate granule cells.

Analysis of Variance

Postnatal changes of brain monoamine levels in prenatally malnourished and control rats.

The effects of age and prenatal protein malnutrition (6% casein diet) on the concentration of monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites and precursors in the hippocampal formation, striatum, brain stem and cerebral cortex were investigated in 1-, 15-, 30-, 45-, 90- and 220-day-old rats. Concentrations of all neurotransmitters, i.e. dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin changed significantly during the development. However, two main patterns were recognized. Serotonin in all areas, and dopamine in the striatum, increased from birth to day 45, and declined significantly in 90-day-old rats. In contrast, norepinephrine in all areas, and dopamine in areas other than the striatum, showed the lowest levels in 30-day-old rats, with levels increasing gradually after this age. Concentrations of metabolites paralleled changes in corresponding neurotransmitter levels. Prenatal protein malnutrition did not significantly affect any neurotransmitter concentrations with the exception of increased tryptophan levels (181%) in the hippocampal formation of newborn rats and decreased tyrosine levels (59%) in the striatum of day 30 rats. The results indicate that the monoamine transmitter content varied dynamically throughout postnatal life; however, they seem to counteract the insult from prenatal protein malnutrition after postnatal nutritional rehabilitation.

Aging

Effect of prenatal malnutrition on release of monoamines from hippocampal slices.

The effect of prenatal protein malnutrition on release of monoamine neurotransmitters, their precursors and metabolites, from hippocampal slices was investigated in 15, 30, 90 and 220 days old male rats. The release of dopamine and its metabolites, tryptophan, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid from hippocampal slices of malnourished rats was greater than release from control slices at all ages studied. Malnutrition also significantly increased the release of normetanephrine but only in the 220 day age group. Potassium-induced depolarization increased release of tyrosine, normetanephrine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid less from slices of malnourished than from control rats. The release of norepinephrine, normetanephrine, serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid increased significantly with age while the release of tyrosine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid decreased significantly with age. Age was also significantly associated with the effectiveness of potassium-induced depolarization in increasing release of tyrosine, norepinephrine, normetanephrine, tryptophan, serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid.

Age Factors

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