Folate catabolism is related to growth rate in weanling rats.
The relationship between growth rate and folate catabolism was determined using a catch-up growth model in weanling rats. A recently developed HPLC method was employed to compare the urinary excretion of the major end product of folate catabolism, acetamidobenzoylglutamate (apABGlu), in normally growing (n = 8) and age-matched growth-restricted (n = 8) weanling animals, during and after food restriction. During the 12-d period of food restriction in which restricted rats were fed (per gram of body weight) at a level of 50% of the required dietary intake for normal growth, apABGlu excretion was significantly higher in normally growing rats compared with growth-restricted rats. In the latter group after restriction, apABGlu concentrations increased markedly, tending to exceed those of normally growing rats of comparable age. Thus growth retardation resulted in a decreased rate of folate catabolism, whereas accelerated growth following dietary restriction was associated with an increase in catabolism. Because early growth in rats is predominantly hyperplastic, these results suggest that the rate of folate catabolism is related to folate utilization in cell division.
McNulty
H
H
Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College Medical School, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
McPartlin
J M
JM
Weir
D G
DG
Scott
J M
JM
D010129:4-Aminobenzoic Acid / Q000652:urine; D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D005971:Glutamates; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology; D062366:para-Aminobenzoates
D005971:Glutamates; D062366:para-Aminobenzoates; C030903:N-(4-acetamidobenzoyl)-L-glutamic acid; D005492:Folic Acid; D010129:4-Aminobenzoic Acid