The effects of protein deprivation on neuronal migration in rats

Although there is extensive literature documenting the effects of undernutrition on brain development, most studies have been concerned with cell differentiation with little attention given to neuronal migration. In a rat model we have investigated the effect of chronic protein deprivation on cell migration from the anterior lateral ventricle to the olfactory bulb. By using standard autoradiographic techniques and comparing the position of heavily labeled cells within the migratory stream, we estimated the migration rate to be 100 microns/h in 25%-casein-diet rats and between 33 and 70 microns/h in 8%-casein-diet rats. We therefore conclude that migration is slowed in chronically protein-deprived rats and this slowed migration may be related to subsequent abnormalities of cell differentiation seen in protein-deprived rats.