Abstract
We previously reported that maternal starvation late in gestation results in relatively unperturbed protein synthesis in fetal striated muscle and brain. We have now studied protein turnover in fetal tissues after restriction of maternal protein intake throughout gestation.
Rats were maintained on isocaloric diets containing either 6% or 27% protein throughout pregnancy. Growth curves (KG) for protein content of fetal diaphragm, heart, liver and brain were constructed from days 19-22 gestation. Fetal protein synthesis (KS) was determined after i.v. injection of “massive” amounts of 3H-phenylalanine to the mothers on day 21 gestation. Protein degradation (KD) was calculated from the equation, KD = KS - KG.
Fetal body weight was reduced significantly on days 19-22 when pregnant rats were fed the low protein (LP) diet. KS (days−1) in fetal tissues is shown in the table:
Reduced KS in tissues of fetuses from LP rats was accompanied by reduced KD values in all tissues. Thus, protein restriction in pregnant rats throughout gestation results in fetal growth retardation; protein turnover in fetal striated muscle and liver is characterized by decreased KS and KD. These results correspond to trends in protein turnover observed in young adult rats subjected to protein restriction.
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Johnson, J., Dunham, T. PROTEIN TURNOVER IN TISSUES OF THE FETAL RAT FOLLOWING MATERNAL PROTEIN RESTRICTION. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 216 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00300
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00300