title: Maternal protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation affects the development of muscle fibers and neuromuscular junctions in rats.
abstract: A balanced maternal diet is a determining factor in normal fetal development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of maternal protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation on muscle fiber and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) morphology of rat offspring at 21 days of age.
  
  
  
  Wistar rats were divided into a control group (CG), offspring of mothers fed a normal protein diet (17%), and a restricted group (RG), offspring of mothers fed a low-protein diet (6%). After a period of lactation, the animals were euthanized, and soleus muscles were obtained from pups for analysis.
  
  
  
  The soleus muscles of the RG exhibited an increase of 133% in the number of fibers and of 79% in the amount of nuclei. Moreover, the number of NMJs was lower in the restricted group than in the CG.
  
  
  
  Maternal protein restriction alters the normal development of the neuromuscular system. Muscle Nerve 55: 109-115, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências e Saúde, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heloisa Deola
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4514-6743
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Confortim
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências e Saúde, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leslie Cazetta
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Jerônimo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Médicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lígia Aline
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Centenaro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Fernanda Felipe
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Selma Maria Michelin
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Matheus
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Médicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia Miranda
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Torrejais
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
keywords: fetal programming; malnutrition; neuromuscular development; neuromuscular junction; protein restriction; soleus muscle