Influence of early protein undernutrition on the size and composition of the rat brain and other organs

유유기(乳幼期)의 단백질부족(蛋白質不足)이 뇌(腦) 및 기타기관(其他器官)의 발달(發達)에 미치는 영향(影響)

These experiments were designed to study the influence of protein undernutrition during lactation period(3 wks) or after-weaning period(8 wks) on growth of organs, and on brain and liver composition of the experimental rats. The following experimental groups were studied. Group No. Rats Lactation(3 wks) (Diet of mother rat) After-weaning period(8wks) Rehabilitation Period(17wks) I 8 25% Casein diet 25% Casein diet 25% Casein diet II 8 12% Casein diet 25% Casein diet 25% Casein diet III 8 25% Casein diet 5% Casein diet 25% Casein diet IV 8 12% Casein diet 5% Casein diet 25% Casein diet After the perriod of rehabilitation(17 wks) with 25% casein diet, the following results were obtained. 1. Most of the organs except the spleen could not catch up with the normal group in their weights for the group of protein undernutrition during lactation(3 wks), even after 17 weeks of rehabilitation. For the group of protein undernutrition during after-weaning period(8 wks) brain, lung, heart, spleen and pancreas could catch up with the normal group after rehabilitation. According to this result it is assumed that the growth of brain, lung, heart and pancreas might be developed mostly during lactation and that the growth of liver and kidney might be developed after-weaning period continuously. 2. For the groups of protein underuntrition during lactation period or after-weaning period the amounts of total lipid, cholesterol and phospholipid of brain were lower than those of normal group. Especially, cholesterol level was significantly lower than normal group. And there was also a significant difference in the phospholipid level of the after-weaning(8 wks) deprivation group. 3. The groups of protein undernutrition during lactation or after-weaning period(8 wks) showed lower level of liver nitrogen and higher level of liver fat. Especially, protein undernutriton during lactation gave a greater influence on the lever of liver fat.