Effect of chronic protein restriction on motor co-ordination and brain neurotransmitters in albino rats.
In this study we evaluated the motor co-ordination in Wistar strain albino rats that were maintained on a protein-restricted diet for a period of 1 year immediately after the weaning period, by substituting 75% of the normal diet with a carbohydrate-rich diet deficient in protein, for a period of 1 year immediately after the weaning period. This type of chronic protein restriction caused disturbances in motor co-ordination. It also caused a significant reduction in the basal levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine and serotonin along with their metabolites homovanillic acid (HVA), vanillyl mandelic acid (VMA) and 5-hydroxy indoleacetic acid (5HIAA) and precursor L-dopa in the corpus striatum and cerebellum. Changes in these neurotransmitters could have caused altered co-ordination in the protein-restricted animals.
Mathangi
D C
DC
Department of Physiology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, (DU), Madras 600 116, India.
Namasivayam
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine