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Effects of Malnutrition on Some Aspects of RNA Metabolism in the Maternal Liver and Fetal Tissues at Different Stages of Pregnancy in the Rat¹

Institute of Human Nutrition, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 630 West 168 Street, New York, New York 10032

A comparison was made between rats fed diets containing either 5% casein or 25% casein, both being supplemented with DL-methionine, from the first day of pregnancy. Livers of dams killed on days 7, 14, and 21 and whole fetuses on days 12, 14, and 21 were weighed, analyzed for protein, RNA and DNA content and assayed for ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase (SAMD). Free and total alkaline ribonuclease activity were also measured in the maternal livers. Malnutrition reduced the characteristic increase in content of DNA, RNA and protein in the maternal liver and fetus. In control rats, total hepatic RNase activity increased and free RNase activity decreased during late pregnancy. In the deprived group, total activity decreased and free activity increased during late pregnancy. Liver and fetal ODC and SAMD activities were reduced by undernutrition. These studies show that malnutrition reduced both growth and the accretion of RNA in livers and fetuses of rat dams. These changes coincide with a reduced activity of polyamine synthesizing enzymes suggesting that there is a functional relationship between polyamines and RNA. High hepatic free RNase activity in malnourished dams may help to limit any build up in RNA content.

KEY WORDS: • malnutrition • pregnancy • fetal development • polyamines

¹ This grant was supported by National Institutes of Health Research Grant No. HD 06682 and National Foundation Grant No. I-285.

Manuscript received 21 December 1976.