Cellular Response with Increased Feeding in Neonatal Rats

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Abstract
Previous data have established that neonatal rats nursed in groups of 18 animals grew poorly and were ultimately smaller than normally nursed controls. This small stature was associated with fewer cells in all organs studied, both at weaning and at maturity. The size of individuals cells, however, remained normal. In the present study the cellular events associated with the known increased growth rate in rats nursed in groups of three to six animals per mother were examined. The results obtained demonstrated that the organs of these animals contain more cells than the organs of controls. Again individual cell size was normal. The increased growth rate and final size attained in these animals were a function of an increased rate of cell division. The combination of these data with the previous data suggests that the state of nutrition during the neonatal period is important to the rate of cell division and the final number of cells in the organs of the rat.