l-arginine treatment early in life influences NADPH-diaphorase neurons in visual cortex of normal and early-malnourished adult rats

• Published in: Brain research 2006-02, Vol.1072 (1), p.19-25
• Main Authors: Maia, Luciana M.S.S., Frazão, Marília F., Souza, Thays K.M., Silva, Mariana B., Rocha-de-Melo, Ana P., Picanço-Diniz, Cristovam W., Amâncio-dos-Santos, Ângela, Guedes, Rubem C.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Arginine; Arginine - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight; Brain - growth & development; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Lactation; Malnutrition; Malnutrition - physiopathology; NADPH Dehydrogenase - metabolism; NADPH-diaphorase; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - physiology; Nitric oxide; Organ Size; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reference Values; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Visual cortex; Visual Cortex - drug effects; Visual Cortex - physiology
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2005.12.027

This study investigated the effects of repeated l-arginine administration during lactation, combined with different suckling conditions, on morphometric parameters of primary visual cortex NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons. Wistar rat pups reared in “normal-size litters” or “large litters” (N- and L-conditions; litters formed by 6 and 12 pups, respectively) received, from postnatal day 7 to 28, either arginine (300 mg/kg/day, per gavage) or distilled water (control). At 90–120 days of life, they were perfused with saline + formaldehyde, and their brains were processed for histochemical reaction to reveal NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons (malic enzyme indirect method). Compared to the normal-size litters, L-rats had lower body weights ( P