Hepatic and thymic alterations in newborn offspring of malnourished rat dams.
BACKGROUND
Protein-energy malnutrition encompasses a group of conditions resulting from a lack of both protein and calories. It affects immune function and the gastrointestinal tract. Animal model studies of the effect of malnutrition during pregnancy and lactation have shown changes in the body weight of dams, with consequences for the pups.


METHODS
Sixty healthy adult Wistar rats were mated for breeding. Pregnant dams (n = 19) were separated and randomly divided into 2 groups: normally nourished (NG; n = 10) and malnourished (MG; n = 9). The authors measured the average amount of feed eaten by the dams in the NG group in 24 hours and offered half this amount to the MG dams until delivery, after which both groups had an adequate amount of feed. Offspring were killed after birth and after lactation. Morphometric liver parameters were measured, and the tissue microarray method was performed manually to carry out histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of thymuses from the offspring.


RESULTS
Body weight, body length, and intestine length measured after birth were statistically lower (P < .05) in the MG group offspring than in the NG group offspring but recovered after lactation. Histological comparison of pups' livers revealed minimal differences. However, morphometric evaluation showed significant differences. Slides exposed to antivimentin and anti-CD45 RO stained positively in both groups, but the samples from the NG group were more heavily stained.


CONCLUSIONS
Malnutrition in dams causes alterations in the liver, thymus, and other internal organs of newborn offspring. Significant changes in thymuses were found using human monoclonal antibodies that cross-react with rat proteins, a novel finding in the literature.
Schuler
Sandra Lúcia
SL
Experimental Pathology Laboratory, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil. gastroped@hpp.org.br
Gurmini
Jocemara
J
Cecílio
William Augusto Casteleins
WA
Viola de Azevedo
Marina Luise
ML
Olandoski
Márcia
M
de Noronha
Lúcia
L
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development; D001835:Body Weight; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology*