DNA (Cell Number) and Protein in Neonatal Brain: Alteration by Maternal Dietary Protein Restriction

Abstract

Female rats were maintained on 8 or 27 percent protein diet by a pair-feeding schedule for 1 month before mating and throughout gestation. The brains of newborn rats from females on the 8 percent protein diet contained significantly less DNA and protein compared to the progeny of the females on the 27 percent diet. The data on DNA indicate that there are fewer cells; the protein content per cell was also lower. If, at birth, the brain cells are predominantly neurons, and their number becomes final at that time, then such dietary restriction may result in some permanent brain-neuron deficiency. This quantitative alteration in number as well as the qualitative one (protein per cell) may constitute a basis for the frequently reported impaired behavior of the offspring from protein-deprived mothers.

Fetal metabolism and fetal growth

“…During pregnancy this is associated with intrauterine growth retardation, particularly of extra-neural organs, with major alterations of lipid, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism (Lee & Chow, 1965;Fain & Scow, 1966;Zamenhof, Van Marthens & Margolis, 1968; Chase, Dabiere, Welch & O'Brien, 1971 ; Tsoulos, Colwill, Battaglia, Makowski & Meschia, 1971 ; Thaler, 1972;Nitzan & Groffman, 1971;Widdowson, 1974). A similar growth retardation effect can be produced by modifying uterine blood flow to the placenta or umbilical blood flow to the fetus (Wigglesworth, 1964;Hohenauer & Oh, 1969;Emmanouilides, Townsend & Bauer, 1968;Roux, Tordet-Caridroit & Chanez, 1970;Hill, 1974).…”

Malnutrition, learning, and intelligence.

“…More recent studies (Zamenhof, 1968) as well as by Winick (1968) have demonstrated that the deprivation is also accompanied by a reduction in brain cell number. This latter effect has been demonstrated too in human brain in infants who have died of severe early malnutrition (Winick and Rosso, 1969).…”

Development of Na+-K+-ATPase in Neonatal Rat Brain Synaptosomes after Perinatal Protein Malnutrition

“…The severest effects on total brain development in the neonatal rat are produced by undernutrition during gestation and lactation (18). At the time of weaning the undernourished neonatal rat manifests reduced neuronal and glial cell populations in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem.…”