Maternal vitamin A restriction alters biochemical development of the brain in rats. |
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Authors: | H S Sharma U K Misra |
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Institution: | Max-Planck Institute for Physiological and Clinical Research, Bad Nauheim, Federal Republic of Germany. |
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Abstract: | The biochemical development of the fetal brain in relation to maternal vitamin A restriction was studied in rats. The vitamin A status of pregnant rats was varied by supplying low, medium and adequate amounts (6, 40, and 100 micrograms retinol/day/kg body weight, respectively) of vitamin A during pregnancy and suckling. The maternal vitamin A restriction caused an altered brain development in terms of tissue weight, DNA, RNA and protein levels, and biosynthesis of DNA and protein from 3H]-thymidine and 3H]-leucine, respectively. A dose-dependent effect of maternal vitamin A restriction on the metabolism of DNA, RNA and protein was noticed in the developing fetal brain of rats. |
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