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Relationships among Maternal Diet, Serotonin Metabolism at Weaning, and Protein Selection of Progeny^{1 ,2}

Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8 Canada

Brain serotonin (5HT) metabolism in rats at weaning was examined in relation to their maternal dietary protein (PC) and tryptophan (TRP) concentration and to their protein feeding behavior. Pup brain TRP, 5HT, and 5-hydroxyindoleaceticacid (5HIAA) concentration was unaffected by maternal diet PC (10, 20, or 40%) but was increased by TRP additions (0.66 or 1.86%) to 40% casein diets. Turnover of brain 5HT, measured at weaning after probenecid injection, was inversely related to maternal diet PC (r = .54, P < 0.05) but was not affected by TRP supplementation. Pups allowed to select from 10 and 60% casein diets selected during the first 3 days post-weaning, dietary PC which reflected the PC (r = 0.65, P < 0.01), but not TRP content of their maternal diet, and also reflected brain 5HT turnover (r = -.50, P < 0.05), but not concentration, of their littermates. Thus, the relationship of maternal dietary PC to protein selection by the offspring is associated with maternal diet-induced changes in their brain 5HT turnover, at least as measured after probenecid administration.

KEY WORDS: • serotonin • feeding behavior • maternal diet • protein selection • tryptophan • weanling rats • protein

¹ Supported by grant MA 6006 from the Medical Research Council of Canada. C. E. Leprohon received a Medical Research Council Studentship.

² Presented in part at the Canadian Federation of Biological Sciences Meeting. Leprohon, C. E., Johnson, D. J. & Anderson, G. H. (1980) The relationship of maternal diet to protein selection by the offspring is mediated by serotonin. Proc. Can. Fed. Biol. Soc. 23, 280 (abstract).

³ To whom reprint requests should be sent.

Manuscript received 26 August 1981.