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Summary Background & aims To evaluate the effects of nutritional replacement on somatic and bone tissue growth in young malnourished rats. Methods 30 rats, groups: Nourished (NG), Malnourished (MG), Replacement (RG). Malnutrition promoted by 8% casein and replacement by 17% casein. Body weight recorded daily. At 36 days of age, the animals were sacrificed. Analyses included: weight and length of the femur and tibia, number of proliferative and hypertrophic chondrocytes. Results Lower body weight in MG and RG compared to NG. Between MG and RG, body weight greater in RG, from 32nd day. Length and weight of the femur and tibia lower in MG and RG than NG. Between MG and RG, femur length was bigger in the second group, but the tibia length showed no difference between the groups. Weight of the femur and of tibia greater in RG than MG. Number of chondrocytes lower in MG than NG and RG. There was no difference in the number of these cells between NG and RG. Conclusions Nutritional replacement minimized the effects of malnutrition on somatic and bone growth. However, the period of nutritional replacement used in our study was insufficient for the organism to reach its full genetic potential. |
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