Protein-energy malnutrition alters brain thyrotropin-releasing hormone and cyclo (His-Pro) in the neonatal rat.

To evaluate effects of protein-energy malnutrition on the brain neuropeptides thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and cyclo (His-Pro) in the cerebellum and the remainder brain, we studied neonatal rats in the lactational period. Protein-energy malnutrition caused an increase in cyclo (His-Pro) concentrations, but not in TRH concentrations, in the neonatal cerebellum. In the remainder brain, a reduction in cyclo (His-Pro) concentrations occurred with an increase in TRH concentrations. These data indicate that protein-energy malnutrition affects both brain TRH and cyclo (His-Pro) in the neonatal rats during lactation.