Maternal vitamin A restriction alters biochemical development of the brain in rats.
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.
Sharma
H S
HS
Max-Planck Institute for Physiological and Clinical Research, Bad Nauheim, Federal Republic of Germany.
Misra
U K
UK
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*
D011506:Proteins; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA