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Gastrointestinal Growth in the Fetus and Suckling Rat Pups: Effects of Maternal Dietary Protein

Gastroenterology Research Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242

Pregnant and lactating rats were fed diets containing 6% casein (LP) or 26% casein (NP). Intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) pups were obtained from dams fed the LP diet and normal control (C) and preterm (Pre, delivered on day 21 of gestation) pups from dams fed the NP diet. Postnatally pups were raised with foster mothers fed the NP diet (IUGR-NP, C-NP, Pre-NP) or the LP diet (IUGR-LP). The gastrointestinal tracts of the pups were studied at birth and on days 8 and 22 of postnatal life. Growth of the small intestine was relatively faster than that of the body. As percentage body weight, weight of the small intestine increased from 2.2% at birth to 3.4% at 22 days. The composition of the small intestine changed with age. At birth, water content of the small intestine was 82%, protein content 11% and DNA content 0.85%, whereas at 22 days postpartum the corresponding values were 78%, 16% and 1.3%. Compared to corresponding organs in controls the smaller size of the stomach and small intestine in IUGR, IUGR-LP and Pre-NP pups was due to less total protein and DNA contents (cell number) rather than lower protein to DNA ratios (mean cell size).

KEY WORDS: • malnutrition • neonate • small intestine growth

Manuscript received 5 September 1972.