Laminar analysis of the number of neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia in the visual cortex (area 17) of 6- and 12-month-old rhesus monkeys fed a human infant soy-protein formula with or without taurine supplementation from birth.
The effect of taurine supplementation of a commercial (taurine-free) soy protein formula on the development of the visual cortex has been examined in 6- and 12-month-old rhesus monkeys. The thickness, numerical density and total number of neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and microglia have been measured in the different laminae. There was no difference in brain weight at either age. The thickness of layers I and VI were greater in the taurine-deprived (-T) monkeys at 12 months than in the taurine-supplemented (+T) monkeys. There was no difference in any measure of neurons at 6 or 12 months between the +T and -T groups, but there were several differences in the measures of glial cells. Somewhat surprisingly, monkeys fed the taurine-free formula for 6 months followed by the taurine-supplemented formula for 6 months (reversal group, -T/+T) had a number of differences from the other 12-month groups in measures of both neurons and glial cells. These results add to our previous data indicating that there are significant disadvantages to primates fed a taurine-fed formula during development.
Palackal
T
T
Department of Developmental Biochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island 10314.
Neuringer
M
M
Sturman
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000187:drug effects; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology*; D030262:Soybean Proteins; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary; D030262:Soybean Proteins; D013654:Taurine