title: Effect of undernutrition on metabolic compartmentation of glutamate and on the incorporation of [14C] leucine into protein in the developing rat brain.
abstract: The effect of undernutrition on the rate of protein synthesis and the development of metabolic compartmentation of glutamate in the brain was investigated by using [U -14 C] leucine as precursor. In the brain of normal rats the incorporation rate of [14C] leucine into protein was at a maximum during the 3rd week after birth, but in the undernourished animal this rate was markedly lower. The biochemical maturation of the brain, followed in terms of the age-dependent increase in the glutamine/glutamate specific radioactivity ratio, was severly retarded in the undernourished animals, mainly as a result of a marked depression in the conversion of leucine carbon into glutamine. However these biochemical effects of undernutrition were reversible: on rehabilitation from Day 21-35 the rate of conversion of leucine carbon, both into proteins and glutamate and glutamine, was restored to normal.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005971:Glutamates / Q000378:metabolism*; D007930:Leucine / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D007930:Leucine