EFFECT OF A CORN DIET DURING DEVELOPMENT ON [H-3] SPIPERONE BINDING IN THE BRAIN OF RATS AT THE PERINATAL STAGE

A model of undernutrition based on feeding with a corn-diet (tryptopha n deficient) was used to study maturation and physiology of the rat br ain 5-HTergic system, Previously, using that model, we observed a decr ease in 5-HT uptake in rat brain slices, assuming that some compensato ry mechanisms could be implicated at the synaptic level on those condi tions, Body, brain weight, and total [H-3]-spiperone binding were reco rded at two fetal ages and newborn pups from mothers were fed with a c orn-diet and with a corn-lysine diet, Significant decreases in body we ight and in [H-3]-spiperone binding were observed at all ages studied in the corn-based diet groups with respect to controls at the first po stnatal day of age, whereas at the 18th gestation day, the [H-3]-spipe rone binding was higher in the protein restricted and corn-lysine supp lemented group than in the control group, Results suggested that expre ssion of 5-HT receptors and possibly their synthesis may be limited at the synaptic level on undernutrition conditions.