12 Olivares.indd

The effect of prenatal malnutrition on the anatomy of the corpus callosum was assessed in adult rats (45-52 days old). In the prenatally malnourished animals we observed a signifi cant reduction of the corpus callosum total area, partial areas, and perimeter, as compared with normal animals. In addition, the splenium of corpus callosum (posterior fi fth) showed a signifi cant decrease of fi ber diameters in the myelinated fi bers without changing density. There was also a signifi cant decrease in diameter and a signifi cant increase in density of unmyelinated fi bers. Measurements of perimeter’s fractal dimensions from sagittal sections of the brain and corpus callosum did not show signifi cant differences between malnourished and control animals. These fi ndings indicate that cortico-cortical connections are vulnerable to the prenatal malnutrition, and suggest this may affect interhemispheric conduction velocity, particulary in visual connections (splenium).