BOLD Changes in Somatosensory Cortex of Malnourished Rats

R Martin¹, R Godinez¹, Alfredo O. Rodriguez¹

Malnutrition is a main public health problem in developing countries. Incidence is increasing and the mortality rate is still high. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (BOLD) was used for mapping brain activity of malnourished rats. The food competition method was applied to a rat model to provoke malnutrition during lactation. The vibrissae-barrel axis was also used due to its advantages for studying structure, function, development and plasticity within the somatosensory cortex. BOLD response changes caused by the trigeminal nerve stimulation on brain activity of malnourished and control rats were obtained at 7T. Results showed a major neuronal activity in malnourished rats.