Effects of an overload of animal protein on the rat: brain DNA alterations and tissue morphological modifications during fetal and post-natal stage.
On account of many literature reports about the definite correlation between high animal protein intake and cardiovascular diseases, we have studied the effect of a hyperproteic purified diet (casein 40%, lactalbumin 20%) on fetal and post-natal (not further than 40th day) stage of the rat, when cell subdivision process is faster and therefore damage by nutritional imbalance is certainly more serious. Litters of rats were grouped according to mother's (either hyperproteic or common basic) and rat's (after lactation) diet. Brain DNA and histology of various organs were studied. Hyperproteic diet during fetal stage and lactation would inhibit brain cell subdivision since overall content of brain DNA would be decreased on autoptic finding. Structural changes were also shown in liver, heart, kidney and adrenal cortex, especially when hyperproteic diet was continued even after lactation.
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002364:Caseins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007774:Lactation; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D002364:Caseins; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D004247:DNA; D007768:Lactalbumin