The aims of this work were to evaluate the effects of the deficient ingestion of
protein and
vitamin B on the biochemical and hematologic parameters and on the
NADH- and
NADPH-diaphorase positive myenteric neurons. The control animals (n=10) received commercial chow and the experimental rats (n=10) received chow with
protein level reduced to 8% during 120 days. At the time of killing blood was collected for assessment of the blood and hematologic parameters and the ascending colon for quantitative analysis of the neurons of the myenteric plexus. It was observed that the reduction of the
protein level to 8% coupled to the reduction of the levels of
vitamin B in adult rats neither led to qualitative or quantitative changes on red or white blood cells, nor decreased
globulin levels, induced the formation of
edema or gave rise to clinical signs typical of
protein or
vitamin B deficiency. On the other hand, the experimental protocol led to less
weight gain, change on the body composition with fat deposition; decrease of the values of serum total
protein and
albumin; reduction of the area of colon and density of nitrergic and
NADH-diaphorase myenteric neurons inferior to the expected.