Motor nerve conduction velocity and nerve fibre diameter in experimental protein deprivation

Abstract

Motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) and nerve fibre calibre spectra of peripheral nerves were determined at different ages, during development in normal and protein-deprived rats. The protein deprivation was achieved by feeding female rats a protein deficient diet, given ad lib from 2 weeks before conception and onwards. After weaning, the offspring were fed the same protein-deficient diet. Compared to control rats which were given a balanced diet, the protein-deprived rats showed considerably reduced body weights but moderately reduced values of albumin and total protein in serum at 6 and 15 weeks of age. Although essentially the same, the mean nerve fibre diameter of the studied dorsal tail nerve was slightly larger in the protein-deprived rats at 6 weeks of age than in controls, while the inverse relationship was found at 15 weeks of age. The increase of MCV in normal and protein-deprived rats followed essentially the same curve during the period from 5–30 weeks of age. The results indicate that the MCV and nerve fibre diameter during development are correlated to chronological age and not to body size, although protein deprivation may, to a minor extent, influence nerve fibre calibre growth.