Characterization of behavioral profile of malnourished recovered rats with psychology techniques

• Grant number: 11/51296-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2011
• End date: November 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Alberto da Silva
• Grantee: Carlos Alberto da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde. Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (UNIMEP). Instituto Educacional Piracicabano. Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

It has been shown that protein malnutrition promotes morphological and functional changes in different tissues affecting functions related to metabolism and absorption of nutrients; change in body composition and delayed weight gain; combined facts that accompany changes in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins and corroborate for an intense catabolism. In protein-energy malnutrition, the body responds uniquely to the restrictions, and suggested the development of weakness, growth retardation, decreased immune response, atrophy and consequent reduction of body size and organs. In contrast to the events linked to malnutrition, experimental studies with rats subjected to the process of early malnutrition and later rehabilitated nutritional show controversial results regarding the occurrence of recovery of organ function and / or structural, possibly due to the restoration of metabolic variables with nutritional recovery will be slow and dependent on the time and pattern of recovery. Concomitant malnutrition, the body develops biochemical and functional changes that culminate in the histo-physiological tissue structures, such as disorders of enzymatic systems, the pituitary hormones in neurodevelopment, etc. The functional balance of the central nervous system is also affected, especially in early stages of life, there are hypotheses that suggest relations between the intellectual and nutritional deficits, which can not be fully restored with supplemental feeding. A biochemical study conducted with the brain of rats subjected to early malnutrition showed significant reduction in protein and lipid pattern, a fact indicative of metabolic and functional alterations, which, in the brain, can have irreversible character. The purpose of this project is to investigate aspects of the behavior of rats malnourished and recovered using methods applied in experimental psychology, condiction of behaviors that may be altered because the protein deficit in the early stages of life. (AU)