Effects of protein malnutrition during development on protein synthesis in brain and peripheral tissues.

Rats born of mothers fed a low protein diet (8% casein versus a normal 25% casein diet) starting 5 weeks prior to mating showed a 50-100% increase in protein synthesis in the brain and kidney on the day of birth. This effect was due to a 50-100% increase in the uptake of IP injected 14C-leucine in the malnourished rats. The proportion of total tissue radioactivity in the trichloroacetic acid-protein precipitates was the same in the 8% and 25% casein groups. For the most part, there were no significant diet related changes in uptake or incorporation of 14C-leucine in the brain, liver or kidney in the 8% and 25% casein groups on Days 5, 10-11 and 21. While the physiological basis of the diet related changes seen on the day of birth is unknown, the present data represent a previously undescribed effect of prenatal protein malnutrition.