Hepatic phosphatidylcholine synthesis in deficiency of lysine and threonine: effect of malathion

Rats fed on a rice diet deficient in lysine and threonine showed increased activities of CDP-Choline pathway enzymes and incorporation of (methyl-3H)-choline into hepatic microsomal phosphatidylcholine, compared to rats fed on the same diet supplemented with lysine and threonine. However, the amount of microsomal phosphatidylcholine was significantly decreased in rats fed a deficient rice diet. These results suggest an enhanced phosphatidylcholine catabolism in rats fed on a rice diet deficient in lysine and threonine. Malathion administration reduced the amount of phosphatidylcholine in all the groups.     

Hepatic phosphatidylcholine synthesis in deficiency of lysine and threonine: effect of malathion

Summary Rats fed on a rice diet deficient in lysine and threonine showed increased activities of CDP-Choline pathway enzymes and incorporation of (methyl-³H)-choline into hepatic microsomal phosphatidylcholine, compared to rats fed on the same diet supplemented with lysine and threonine. However, the amount of microsomal phosphatidylcholine was significantly decreased in rats fed a deficient rice diet. These results suggest an enhanced phosphatidylcholine catabolism in rats fed on a rice diet deficient in lysine and threonine. Malathion administration reduced the amount of phosphatidylcholine in all the groups.     

Dietary induced increase of lactase activity in adult rats is independent of adrenals

Adult rats fed 10 days a low starch-high fat diet were either adrenalectomized or sham-operated and force-fed the same diet another 5 days; 14 h before sacrifice, some animals were force-fed a sucrose diet. Activity of lactase, sucrase and maltase was increased in adrenalectomized and sham-operated rats.     

Changes in serum proteins and in major liver constituents following carbon tetrachloride and a high-fat choline-free diet in rats.

Both carbon tetrachloride and a high-fat, low-protein choline-free diet cause hepatomegaly in rats due to an accumulation of both lipids and proteins with a concomitant increase in deoxyribonucleic acid content. CCl4 causes a decline in hepatic glycogen. Serum albumin level is decreased in CCl4-treated rats and increased in those fed the experimental diet.     

The diet and gut microflora influence the distribution of enteroendocrine cells in the rat intestine

Several functions of the gut are locally influenced by peptides and biogenic amines released from enteroendocrine cells. The aim of the present study was to assess whether the luminal stimulus of diet or microbial flora or diet-microbial interactions have an influence on the distribution of enteroendocrine cells along the crypt-surface axes of the small and large intestine. The effects of diet and indigenous flora were investigated by comparing the numbers of argyrophil and serotonin immunoreactive cells in the jejunum and colon of germ free and conventional rats fed either a purified diet containing fine ingredients or a commercial diet containing crude fibre of cereal origin. The effects of human flora were analysed in germ-free rats inoculated with human faecal organisms. 1. Feeding the commercial diet reduced the number of argyrophil endocrine cells in the jejunum and serotonin immunoreactive cells in the colon of gern-free animals but increased the serotonin immunoreactive cells in the colon of conventional animals. 2. The rat flora increased the serotonin immunoreactive cells in the colon of animals fed a commercial diet and decreased in those fed a purified diet. 3. Inculation of human flora increased the numbers of serotonin immunoreactive cells both in the jejunum and colon. The results provide evidence that the dietary changes and diet-microbial interactions can affect the regional number of enteroendocrine cells.     

Effect of diet on osmotic water flow across rat colon mucosa

Summary Osmotic water flow across colon mucosa was increased in rats adapted to a high protein diet (HP) compared to rats fed a high carbohydrate diet (HC). The diet-induced change of the osmotic permeability of the colon is probably a manifestation of a regulatory mechanism controlling intestinal water absorption.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.The technical assistance of Miss Margitta Hosser is gratefully acknowledged.     

Dietary induced increase of lactase activity in adult rats is independent of adrenals

Summary Adult rats fed 10 days a low starch-high fat diet were either adrenalectomized or sham-operated and force-fed the same diet another 5 days; 14 h before sacrifice, some animals were force-fed a sucrose diet. Activity of lactase, sucrase and maltase was increased in adrenalectomized and sham-operated rats.Supported by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA (AM 27624).     

Changes in serum proteins and in major liver constituents following carbon tetrachloride and a high-fat choline-free diet in rats

Summary Both carbon tetrachloride and a high-fat, low-protein choline-free diet cause hepatomegaly in rats due to an accumulation of both lipids and proteins with a concomitant increase in deoxyribonucleic acid content. CCl₄ causes a decline in hepatic glycogen. Serum albumin level is decreased in CCl₄-treated rats and increased in those fed the experimental diet.     

Effect of a restricted diet on the in vitro glucose-induced insulin release of aging rats.

To study the effect of a sudden loss of body weight on the beta-cell function of aging rats, basal and glucose-induced insulin secretion was measured in pancreatic islets obtained from young (2-month-old), adult (12-month-old) and aging (24-month-old) rats, either fed ad libitum or fed a restricted diet (50% caloric restriction). Basal insulin secretion was similar in islets of young, adult and older rats. Glucose stimulated insulin release was significantly reduced in aging rats as compared to young animals. Animals fed a restricted diet showed a prolonged and higher secretory rate during first phase release when compared to animals fed ad libitum.     

Hypolipidemic effects of garlic oil in rats fed ethanol and a high lipid diet

Summary Feeding of ethanol and a high fat-high cholesterol diet to rats markedly increased the total lipids in the liver, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the serum, liver and kidneys. However, when ethanol mixed with 0.5% garlic oil was fed to animals maintained on the high fat-high cholesterol diet, these lipid levels were significantly reduced to levels near to those seen in untreated control rats. Garlic oil did not reduce the serum albumin or the total proteins of liver, kidneys or serum when fed along with ethanol. Probably the garlic oil enhances the catabolism of dietary cholesterol and fatty acids.The authors acknowledge with thanks the financial assistance of the University of Maiduguri for carrying out this project.     

A synergistic interaction between the teratogenic effect of trypan blue and dietary deficiency in the rat.

There was an increased incidence, compared to controls, of exencephaly and microphthalmia in the offspring of rats fed a vitamin D deficient diet and injected with trypan blue on day 9 of gestation. Oral vitamin D did not reverse the effect.     

Effect of feeding zinc-deficient Bengal gram (Cicer arietenum) diet to rats on the in vitro absorption of L-histidine monohydrochloride

Summary The in vitro absorption of L-histidine monohydrochloride from the duodenum was less in a group of rats fed a zinc-deficient bengal gram diet than in a group fed a zinc-supplemented bengal gram diet.     

Ascorbic acid in brown adipose tissue: effect of cold acclimation and high intake of the vitamin

Summary The ascorbic acid content of brown adipose tissue increased 62% when rats underwent cold acclimation; however, the increase was 126% when rats living in the cold were fed a basal diet supplemented with 2% ascorbic acid. These findings suggest a role for ascorbic acid in this tissue during nonshivering thermogenesis.Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, publication No. 113.     

Effect of a restricted diet on the in vitro glucose-induced insulin release of aging rats

To study the effect of a sudden loss of body weight on the -cell function of aging rats, basal and glucose-induced insulin secretion was measured in pancreatic islets obtained from young (2-month-old), adult (12-month-old) and aging (24-month-old) rats, either fed ad libitum or fed a restricted diet (50% caloric restriction). Basal insulin secretion was similar in islets of young, adult and older rats. Glucose stimulated insulin release was significantly reduced in aging rats as compared to young animals. Animals fed a restricted diet showed a prolonged and higher secretory rate during first phase release when compared to animals fed ad libitum.     

Carcinogenicity examination of betel nuts and piper betel leaves.

A dry powder of betel nuts, piper betel leaves and lime was administered to rats. Epidermal thickening was frequently observed in the upper digestive tracts of rats in groups fed the betel nut diet mixed with lime and the betel leaves diet, and a forestomach papilloma was seen in 1 rat given betel leaves diet. These epidermal changes were scarcely seen in rats given either betel nut or normal diet alone.     

Chromosomal abnormalities in starved and marginally malnourished rats and in utero upon rehabilitation

The effects of starvation and marginal malnutrition (MN) on the lymphocytes of rats were evaluated by chromosomal analysis before and after rehabilitation. The effect of parental starvation or malnutrition on chromosomal aberrations in the foetus was also studied. Wistar rats, 30–35 days old, were starved for 5 days or fed a minimally restricted or a severely restricted diet for three weeks. At the end of the period of starvation or malnutrition, lymphocytes were isolated and chromosomal analysis was performed. Starved and severely restricted rats showed significantly higher mean chromosomal aberrations than the controls. These aberrations returned to a normal level when the experimental groups were rehabilitated for a month, indicating that the damage was transient. A chromosomal aberration study done on foetal cells from rehabilitated rats which had previously been starved or fed a severely restricted diet showed significantly increased values, indicating that some damage was permanent. A low number of implantations was also recorded in these experimental groups. These observations clearly indicate that young animals exposed to conditions like starvation or chronic malnutrition are prone to permanent damage of the genetic system.     

Carcinogenicity examination of betel nuts and piper betel leaves

Summary A dry powder of betel nuts, piper betel leaves and lime was administered to rats. Epidermal thickening was frequently observed in the upper digestive tracts of rats in groups fed the betel nut diet mixed with lime and the betel leaves diet, and a forestomach papilloma was seen in 1 rat given betel leaves diet. These epidermal changes were scarcely seen in rats given either betel nut or normal diet alone.This work was supported by a grant from the U.S.-Japan Cooperative Medical Science Program     

The effect of lactose and iron on strontium absorption

In rats fed on a milk diet with or without the addition of lactose and/or iron the transileal strontium-85 transfer was higher by 14-38% and the intestinal strontium retention lower by 6-23% than in control rats fed on standard laboratory food.     

Ovarian stimulation by exogenous gonadotrophins in fetal ethanol-exposed immature rats

Adult pregnant rats were given either an ad libitum liquid diet containing 5% ethanol, a pair fed liquid diet or an ad libitum diet of rat chow and water administered throughout pregnancy and during the nursing period. The female offspring received either pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) or PMSG followed by human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) at 30 days of age. The ovaries of fetal ethanol-exposed animals responded greater to the exogenous gonadotrophins with enhanced ovarian weights, increased numbers of ova shed, greater numbers of corpora lutea and antral follicles, and higher serum progesterone levels than in animals exposed to the control diets during gestation.     

Effect of feeding cereal-legume diets to rats on in vitro absorption of45Ca

Summary The in vitro absorption of calcium from the duodenum was significantly less in a group of rats fed on a wheat diet than in a group fed a wheat and Bengal gram (7030) diet.