Perinatal undernutrition: changes in brain opiate receptor density.

The present work sought to study the binding properties of central mu-opiate receptors in whole brain and in different central areas in adult rats undernourished at perinatal age. Rats were undernourished with a hypoproteic diet containing 8% casein from day 14 of gestation until 50 days of age. The animals were thereafter fed a balanced commercial chow until 140 days of age.