Perinatal undernutrition associated to experimental model of cerebral palsy increases adverse effects on chewing in young rats

Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of perinatal undernutrition on the sensorimotor pattern of chewing in rats submitted to cerebral palsy experimental model. A total of 60 male Wistar rats were randomly distributed into four groups: Nourished/Control (NC, n = 15), Nourished/Cerebral Palsy (NCP, n = 15); Undernourished/Control (UC, n = 15) and Undernourished/Cerebral Palsy (UCP, n = 15). Animals of cerebral palsy (CP) group were subjected to an experimental model based on the combination of perinatal anoxia associated with sensorimotor restriction of the hindlimb. In the rats were evaluated body weight gain, intake of breast milk, feed post-weaning consumption, parameters of the chewing, intra-oral sensitivity and muscle properties (muscle weight and distribution of types of fibers) of the masseter and digastric. Animals from undernourished CP group showed greater reduction in most data evaluated including body weight (P