Dendritic development in neocortex of infants with early postnatal life undernutrition.

The structure of large pyramidal cells from layer V of the motor cortex of undernourished and well-nourished infants was studied to determine the effects of postnatal nutrition on cortical dendritic development. In undernourished infants, the arborization and span of the basilar dendrites were decreased in comparison to controls. These findings indicated that undernutrition experienced during the first months of postnatal life could affect the growth of pyramidal cells, especially the formation of basilar dendrites.