Low tryptophan diets delay reproductive aging.
Newly weaned female rats fed diets severely deficient in the essential amino acid tryptophan show marked delays in reproductive aging, with conception and delivery occurring as late as 36 months. The rate of aging in these rats seems inversely related to both their early growth rates and the accessibility of brain tryptophan. The subsequent age retardation may depend on a reduction in both early cell loss and rate of brain maturation.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000172:deficiency*
D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan