The effect of undernutrition on the postnatal development of the brain and cord in pigs

Abstract

Sucking pigs about 2 weeks old were held back by undernutrition so that they weighed only 5 to 6 kg when they were a year of age. The brain and cord developed during this time to the size to be expected in a normal pig about 10 weeks old but, although they remained immature for their chronological age, the effect on the various constituents was not uniform. The accumulation of cholesterol was less retarded than that of DNA.P or the increase in brain weight. During rehabilitation on a highly satisfactory diet the final body w eight reached at 3 1/2 years was 80 % of that to be expected in an adult pig and was equivalent only to that of a normal pig two years old. The central nervous system grew to the appropriate size for the body. The percentage of cholesterol in the central nervous system rose during rehabilitation, but, particularly in the forebrain, brain stem and spinal cord, remained subnormal for the chronological age. The deficiency of DNA- P in the rehabilitated brain was even greater, and the absolute amount finally corresponded to that found in the brain of a norm alanimal only one year of age.