Absence of melatonin during development impairs craniofacial and dental onset in rats.

Objective: Herein, we evaluated pinealectomy-induced melatonin absence to determine its effects on craniofacial and dental development in the offspring.

Design: Female Wistar rats in three groups, i.e.

Maxillary and dental development in the offspring of protein-restricted female rats.

Nutritional restriction during developmental periods impairs organ physiology. Female rats were subjected to protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation to analyze dental and maxillary development. Four exposure groups were considered: normal-protein diet during pregnancy and lactation (NP, 17% casein), low-protein diet during lactation (LP-L, 6% casein), low-protein diet during pregnancy and lactation (LP), and low-protein diet during pregnancy (LP-G).