Mild-to-moderate malnutrition alters glutathione, gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase and glycine uptake in small intestinal brush-border vesicles of rhesus monkeys.
BACKGROUND
In India about 85% of pre-school children show evidence of mild-to-moderate malnutrition. Consequences of severe malnutrition and protein deficiency are well reported by workers but little information is available on milder forms.


METHODS
Mild-to-moderate protein energy malnourished (PEM) state was induced in 12 monkeys by providing 2.42 g protein and 55 kcal kg(-1) day(-1) while 12 controls were fed 4.84 g protein and 110 kcal kg(-1). After a 30-40% reduction in body weight as compared with their controls, the animals were killed and brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were prepared from three parts of small intestine. Purified vesicles were assayed for gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGTP), glutathione (GSH) and U-(14)C-glycine uptake.


RESULTS
GGTP activity increased significantly while glutathione and uptake of glycine decreased significantly in all the three parts of small intestine. On nutritional rehabilitation of 9 weeks, the activity of GGTP, GSH and in vitro uptake of glycine amino acid recovered completely.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study indicates that even mild-to-moderate malnutrition should not be ignored during the development state.
Rana
S V
SV
Department of Gastroenterology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. svrana25@hotmail.com
Gupta
D
D
Katyal
R
R
Singh
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008871:Microvilli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000378:metabolism*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D005978:Glutathione; D005998:Glycine