Effect of Maternal Deprivation and Subsequent Nutritional Rehabilitation on Body Growth, Brain Size and Brain Biochemical Composition of Developing New Born Rats

Studies of severe protein calorie malnutrition in children during early infancy have suggested that brain size and intellectual development suffer a degree of damage that is refractory to subsequent rehabilitation. Results of these studies are very difficult to interpret because of the interaction of antecedent and subsequent cultural, environmental and nutritional determinants. On the contrary, reliable information can be gathered from the animal studies where more precise control are possible for determining the relationship between the plain of nutrition and brain development in early life.