Experimental protein malnutrition decreases calcium-binding protein in rat intestinal mucosa.
Calcium-binding activity was measured in duodenal mucosal homogenates of rats 50 days after weaning onto a protein-deficient diet providing 3-4 g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day compared to control animals, who were fed an isocaloric diet providing 9-12 g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. Calcium-binding activity was decreased (44% of control) further than can be explained by the decrease in intestinal mucosal weight (70% of control) or supernatant protein content (80% of control). The results suggest that the decrease in calcium-binding activity reflects decreased synthesis of the vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein (CaBP) as an adaptive response to the stunted growth associated with protein malnutrition.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004386:Duodenum / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000378:metabolism*
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; D002118:Calcium