Biochemical and physical alterations of bones in newborn rats due to excess methionine administered either by gastric intubation or by maternal milk.
In one series of experiments, methionine dissolved in physiological saline solution was gastric-intubated into newborn rats every other day from 3 to 13 days after birth. In a second series, diets supplemented with methionine were fed daily to lactating dams from one day after birth of the pups. Pups were killed 15 days after birth and the mandible and long bones removed. The weight and 45Ca uptake of long bone of the groups receiving 0.1 g/100 g body weight of methionine were increased compared with either the group receiving no methionine supplement or that given 0.2 g/100 g body weight. The bone effects of high levels of methionine in the maternal diet were more severe than after intragastric administration. Dietary methionine supplementation during the early growth period is necessary for the normal development of bones in newborn rats, but excess intragastric methionine impaired long-bone development and altered collagen synthesis in long bones and mandibles. High maternal methionine impaired mandibles and long bones, and led to decreased linear dimensions.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000032:analysis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008892:Milk; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D008715:Methionine; D002118:Calcium