EFFECTS OF EARLY UNDERNUTRITION ON MOTOR COORDINATION IN THE ADULT-RAT

Female Wistar rats were undernourished during most of gestation and all of lactation. Body weights of offspring were significantly different at 3 and 25 days and at 20 weeks. At 20 and 22 weeks animals were given a motor coordination test. Significant differences between control and experimental animals were found on both occasions. Both groups showed a significant improvement in performance within the first test period thus masking any effects of fatigue. Control animals showed a further improvement in performance after the 2-week interval and only minimal signs of fatigue. Experimental animals failed to show any further improvement and also suffered a greater degree of fatigue. Females appeared to be less severely affected in their performance. Selective deficits in skeletal muscle weights were also found with fast muscle being the most severely affected. It was concluded that performance deficits resulting from early undernutrition were in part due to skeletal muscle changes as well as cerebellar disfunction previously observed. © 1979 Academic Press, Inc.