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Influence of Altering Dietary Protein Levels during Early Development of the Rat on the Activity of Several Brain Enzymes^1,2,

Protein Nutrition Laboratory, Nutrition Institute, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705

Diets containing 45% (high), 22% (control) or 8% (deficient) casein were fed to adult female rats prior to and during gestation. Pups from each litter were randomly reassigned to these dietary groups at weaning (experiment 1) or at birth (experiment 2). The effects of altering dietary protein levels during the developmental period were determined by assaying for acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), phosphofructokinase (PFK), fructose biphosphate aldolase (aldolase) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in brain tissue at 21 and/or 42 days postpartum. Body weights and brain weights were reduced and AChE activity was elevated in pups receiving low dietary protein during either gestation and lactation, or postweaning. Pups receiving superadequate dietary protein postweaning had increased AChE activities at 42 days of age. The effects of protein restriction on the parameters measured varied, and depended on the period of development during which dietary protein was restricted, and on the age of the rat at killing. Responses to high dietary protein were frequently similar to protein deficiency effects, but less severe. Rehabilitation of protein deprived pups was greater if begun at birth rather than postweaning; however, no enhancement of rehabilitation occurred with superadequate dietary protein.

KEY WORDS: • dietary protein • brain enzymes • early development • rehabilitation

¹ Preliminary reports have been presented at the meetings of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Atlantic City, N.J., April 1974 and April 1975. Federation Proc. 33, 661, and Federation Proc. 34, 934 (Abstracts).

² Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warrantee of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.

³ Reprint requests to: Ms. Juliette Coupain, Nutrition Institute, U.S. Department of Agriculture, ARS, ARC-East, Beltsville, Maryland 20705.

⁴ Current address: Department of Human Nutrition and Foods, School of Home Economics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05401.

Manuscript received 2 September 1976.