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Intrauterine Malnutrition and the Brain: Effects on Enzymes and Free Amino Acids Related to Glutamate Metabolism
Author(s) -
Prasad C.,
Agarwal K. N.
Publication year - 1980
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.1471-4159.1980.tb09970.x
Subject(s) - glutamine , glutamine synthetase , amino acid , glutaminase , biochemistry , methionine , biology , glutamic acid , casein , glutamate receptor , metabolism , enzyme , glutamate decarboxylase , medicine , endocrinology , receptor
The effect of feeding pregnant rats with wheat and Bengal gram (black chick pea) diets during the later part of pregnancy on brain growth, enzymes, and free amino acids of glutamate metabolism in 1‐day‐old rats was investigated. These diets did not induce growth dissociation, and the body and brain weights were equally affected. The concentrations of DNA, RNA, protein, and free α‐amino nitrogen in brain decreased significantly and the activities of glutamine synthetase, glutamine transferase, glutaminase 1, glutaminase 11, and glutamate decarboxylase and the concentrations of free amino acids, glutamic acid, glutamine, alanine, and GABA were also decreased. The concentration of aspartic acid, however, was increased. Wheat and Bengal gram diets fortified with lysine and with methionine, cystine, and tryptophan respectively showed various beneficial effects on the changes observed in the brain. A 20% casein diet induced higher body and brain weights and better brain protein and free α‐amino nitrogen concentrations than those observed on a 10% casein diet.