title: Low tryptophan and protein in the diet during development increase the susceptibility to convulsions in adult rats.
abstract: Tryptophan (TRY) is the precursor for serotonin (5-HT) synthesis. Common maize has low protein content with low concentration of TRY and lysine. A diet based on two strains of corn differing in their TRY content were given to adult female rats, prior mating, during pregnancy and lactation. Same diets were offered to their male offspring after weaning until reaching 60-days old. The pattern and severity of the convulsive phenomenon induced by monosodium glutamate (MSG) in a well established model of Status epilepticus were evaluated in comparison with data from animals of two control groups: (a) rats fed a hypoproteic (8% protein) diet, and (b) rats fed a normal Purina chow diet (23% protein). Significant increased susceptibility to convulsions was observed in both groups of rats fed the corn-based diets. However, the animals fed the common corn-based diet (8-9% protein; 0.058% TRY) showed a higher susceptibility to convulsions than what was registered in animals fed a Quality Protein Maize (QPM)-based diet (8-9% protein; 0.1% TRY). It is concluded that low TRY concentration in the diet during development, produces lower rate of brain 5-HT synthesis, affecting development and maturation of GABAergic inhibitory cortical interneurons, with alteration of cortical excitability, contributing in part, to the increased susceptibility to convulsions, as shown in the experiments here reported.
authors.affiliation: Depto. Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Km. 15.5 Carr. Guad.-Nogales, 45100 Las Agujas Nextipac, Zapopan, Jal., Mexico. fva35671@cucba.udg.mx
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feria-Velasco
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mena-Munguía
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cárabez-Torres
authors.forename: Adrián
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez-Medrano
authors.forename: Florencio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Recéndiz-Hurtado
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orozco-Suárez
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beas-Zárate
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005503:Food Additives / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012970:Sodium Glutamate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005503:Food Additives; D011506:Proteins; D014364:Tryptophan; D008239:Lysine; D012970:Sodium Glutamate