Is hippocampal function in the adult rat impaired by early protein or protein‐calorei deficiencies?

Much of the development of the rat's hippocampal formation occurs postnatally which suggests that this structure, like the cerebellum, may be especially vulnerable to early postnatal malnutrition. Radial‐maze performance and spontaneous alternation, two kinds of behavior requiring the integrity of the hippocampus, were assessed to determine whether hippocample function in the adult rat is mipaied as a result of protein restriction in either the prewaning, the postweaning or both stages of development. In three experiments the perormance of protein‐malnoruished rats in 8‐ and 12‐arm mazes did not differ significantly from that of well‐nourished rats. In a fourth experiment levels of spontaneous alternation in protein‐malnourished rats were like those of normal well‐nourished animals. Thus, The present experiments provide no evidence that hippocampal function is impaired as a consequence of early experiments provide no evidence that hippocampal function is impaired as a consequence of early protein deprivation. For the most part, a critical review of earlier studies of undernourished rats supports a similar conclusion.