Cellular Recovery in Rat Tissues after a Brief Period of Neonatal Malnutrition

Abstract

The purpose of these studies was to determine whether the known retardation in the rate of cell division in the organs of malnourished neonatal rats was reversible if adequate feeding was reinstituted during the period of active cell division. Animals undernourished for the first 9 days of life by being nursed in groups of 18 subsequently were nursed in groups of 3. The reduction in the number of cells within the organs of these animals at 9 days disappears by weaning. These data demonstrate that the cellular changes produced by neonatal undernutrition can be reversed if adequate feeding is initiated early enough.