Abstract
Vegetable protein, providing 80% of protein requirements in Third World Countries, can be quantitatively adequate but qualitatively inadequate in protein content. Supplementation with limiting amino acids (AA's) is possible and might aid intrauterine offspring development. In the present experiments 21 Sprague Dawley rats were impregnated and groups of 7 begun on one of 3 diets: A) bread, B) bread + lysine and threonine, or C) lab chow. Weights of all offspring at birth were lower (p< .001) in group A (5.64 ± 0.52g) compared to groups B (6.39 ± 0.88g) or C (6.49 ± 0.34g). Two newborns from each of the 7 litters in each of the 3 groups were randomly selected for further brain studies. Total brain weights were lower for group A pups (.239 ± .019) compared to groups B (.279 ± .022, p<.05) or C (.258 ± .026, p<.001).
Total DNA, representing total cell number, was higher in the cortices of AA supplemented (group B) offspring (.562 ± .019) compared to group A neonates (.537 ± .029, p<.01). DNA was also higher in the cerebellum-brain stem of group B animals (.169 ± .010) compared to group A animals (.158 ± .014, p<.05). There were no significant differences in DNA between the AA supplemented and the chow fed offspring. Total cortex protein was lower in group A animals compared to groups B (p<.001) or C (p<.02). These experiments demonstrate that amino acid fortification of a maternal vegetable protein diet results in improved intrauterine brain development.
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Chase, H., Crnic, L. 1117 INTRAUTERINE DIET FORTIFICATION AND OFFSPRING BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 550 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01123
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01123
