Dendritic Spine Density and Morphology in the Prefrontal Cortex Following Postnatal Protein Restriction in Wistar Rats

Dendritic spines are the principal sites of excitatory synaptic input in cortical neurons, and their density and morphology are highly sensitive to nutritional status during critical periods of postnatal brain development. Protein restriction during the postnatal period can alter dendritic arborisation patterns and spine morphology in ways that may underpin the cognitive impairments documented in malnourished children. This study aims to evaluate dendritic spine density and morphological subtypes in the prefrontal cortex of Wistar rats subjected to postnatal protein restriction from birth to weaning at postnatal day 21. Pups born to dams fed a 5 percent protein diet from gestational day 14 will constitute the malnourished group, while controls receive standard 20 percent protein diet. At weaning, Golgi-Cox impregnation will be applied to prefrontal cortical tissue, and layer III pyramidal neurons will be traced using Neurolucida software. Spine density, spine length, and proportions of stubby, thin, and mushroom spine subtypes will be quantified. Findings will be correlated with maternal weight gain and pup growth curves. The study anticipates providing a cellular neuroanatomical mechanism for prefrontal cognitive deficits in protein-malnourished neonates, relevant to public health interventions for malnutrition in Nigeria.

Keywords: dendritic spines, prefrontal cortex, protein restriction, postnatal nutrition, Golgi impregnation