Effects of undernutrition on the ontogeny of muscarinic receptors and acetylcholinesterase activity in the rat motor cortex

The effect of undernutrition on the ontogeny of muscarinic receptor density and acetylcholineasterase (AChE) activity was studied in the motor cerebral cortex homogenates of female Wistar rats aged 12-19 days, 2-3 months and 5-8 months. Experimental animals were fed a protein-calorie deficient diet. The dinding assays, using (3H)-N-methylscopolamine as a ligand, indicated a significant increase in muscarinic receptor density in the motor cortex of 5-8- monthes old control rats (36%) compared to neonatal controls. No increase was observed for undernourished rats at any of the ages studied. No significant difference was observbed in AChE activity at any age of either group studied