Propagation of cortical spreading depression in malnourished rats: facilitalory effect of dietary protein deficiency

: Adult rats, submitted from gestation to the basic regional diet (BRD) of some human populations in the northeastern region of Brazil, presented higher velocities of propagation of cortical spreading depression (SD) than well-nourished animals. This effect was also seen in rats receiving BRD during the gestation and suckling periods alone but not when this diet was administered only during adult life, suggesting that the alterations produced by BRD occur early in life. The supplementation of BRD with lipids, vitamins and minerals (but not protein) did not prevent the appearance of this facilitatory effect in the gestation + suckling group, suggesting an important effect of protein deficiency in the BRD on cortical SD.