Abstract
The effects of starvation and marginal malnutrition (MN) on the lymphocytes of rats were evaluated by chromosomal analysis before and after rehabilitation. The effect of parental starvation or malnutrition on chromosomal aberrations in the foetus was also studied. Wistar rats, 30–35 days old, were starved for 5 days or fed a minimally restricted or a severely restricted diet for three weeks. At the end of the period of starvation or malnutrition, lymphocytes were isolated and chromosomal analysis was performed. Starved and severely restricted rats showed significantly higher mean chromosomal aberrations than the controls. These aberrations returned to a normal level when the experimental groups were rehabilitated for a month, indicating that the damage was transient. A chromosomal aberration study done on foetal cells from rehabilitated rats which had previously been starved or fed a severely restricted diet showed significantly increased values, indicating that some damage was permanent. A low number of implantations was also recorded in these experimental groups. These observations clearly indicate that young animals exposed to conditions like starvation or chronic malnutrition are prone to permanent damage of the genetic system.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Khouri, F. P., and McLaren, D. S., Am. J. hum. Genet.25 (1973) 465.
Betancourt, M., De la Roca, J., Saenz, M. E., Diaz, R., and Cravioto, J., Lancet1 (1974) 168.
Gupta, R., Gupta, M., and Ramdeo, J., Am. J. clin. Nutr.30 (1977) 1974.
Tolani, M. K., Bagchi, M., Bajpai, P. C., and Wakhulu, L., Indian Pediat.15 (1978) 569.
Thorburn, M. J., Hutchinson, S., and Alleyene, G. A. D., Lancet1 (1972) 591.
Betancourt, M., De La Roca., J. H., and Cravioto, J., Lancet2 (1974) 1332.
Updahaya, K. C., Verma, I. C., and Ghai, O. P., Indian Pediat.12 (1975) 857.
Armendares, S., Salmanca, F., and Frenk, S., Nature232 (1971) 271.
Sadasivan, G., and Raghuram, T. C., Lancet2 (1973) 594.
Evans, H. J., Int. Rev. Cytol.13 (1962) 221.
Vijayalaxmi, Metabolism24 (1975) 1415.
Allison, A. C., and Paton, G. R., Nature207 (1965) 1170.
Rao, G., Xia, E., Nadakavukaren, M. J., and Richardson, A., J. Nutr.120 (1990) 602.
Semsi, I., Rao, G., and Richardson, A., Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun.164 (1989) 620.
Wolff, S., and Luipoid, H. H., Science122 (1955) 231.
Keys, A., Brozek, J., Henschel, A., Mickelsen, O., and Taylor, H. L., in: The Biology of Human Starvation, vol. 1, chapt. 35, p. 749 and vol. 2, chapt. 45, p. 980. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis 1950.
Black, A. K., Maddy, H., and Swift, R. W., J. Nutr.42 (1950) 415.
Murthy, P. B. K., Metabolism33 (1984) 489.
Rosso, P., Fedn Proc.39 (1980) 250.
Minkowski, A., Roux, J. M., and Tordet-Caridriot, C., Curr. Concepts Nutr.2 (1974) 45.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Alu, V., Murthy, P.B. Chromosomal abnormalities in starved and marginally malnourished rats and in utero upon rehabilitation. Experientia 49, 258–262 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01923535
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01923535