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EFFECT OF UNDERNUTRITION ON AMINO ACID COMPARTMENTATION IN THE DEVELOPING RAT BRAIN
Author(s) -
Roach Mary K.,
Corbin Jannie,
Pennington W.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1974.tb06888.x
Subject(s) - glutamine , glutamate receptor , citric acid cycle , leucine , amino acid , metabolism , medicine , endocrinology , biology , glutamic acid , aspartic acid , biochemistry , amino acid metabolism , tricarboxylic acid , receptor
—Rat pups undernourished through 21 days of age show abnormal patterns of cerebral amino acid metabolism. The pattern of incorporation of radioactivity from l ‐[U‐ 14 C]leucine into amino acids derived from tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates was altered, with significantly more 14 C being incorporated into glutamate and aspartate in the underfed rats than in controls. Glutamate compartmentation, manifested in the ratio of specific radioactivities of glutamine to glutamate, developed more slowly in the. diet‐restricted group. These results are similar to those seen in neonatally‐thyroidectomized rats and suggest decreased growth of neuronal processes. This impairment of amino acid metabolism returns to normal after a 7‐week period of adequate nutrition.