Maternal dietary-insult and the biosynthesis of protein and RNA in various cellular fractions of the brain of neonatal and 21-day-old rat progeny

The effect of maternal dietary insult during the period of gestation (EI) and during the period of growth, gestation and lactation (EII) on the body, and cellular growth (DNA, RNA and protein content), protein and RNA synthesis in the brain and various cellular fractions of the brain of the neonatal (N) and 21-day old (T) progeny was investigated. It was noted that body and organ weight failed to increase normally in the N and T progeny of EI and EII groups as compared to a well-fed (WF) group. DNA content did not show any change in the N progeny but was lower in the T progeny of EI and EII groups. RNA content and protein content showed lowering to variable degrees in various cellular fractions of N and T progeny of EI and EII groups as compared to a WF group. RNA to DNA, and protein to DNA ratio were lower in most of the cellular fractions whereas organ weight to DNA ratios was lower in the N progeny and was higher in the T progeny of EI and EII groups. The content of total nucleotides and amino acids and their specific activities showed variable responses in the N and T progeny of EI and EII groups. The synthesis of protein was higher in most of cellular factions of N progeny of EI group and T progeny of EI group. The synthesis of RNA generally was higher in most of the cellular fractions in the N progeny of EI group and EII group and in the T progeny of EII group and showed variable responses in the T progeny of EI group compared to progeny of WF group. These result indicate the profound effect of maternal dietary insult during the period of gestation and periods of gestation and lactation on the molecular and cellular development of brain of neonatal and 21-days-old progeny and also demonstrate that how these effects on the molecular and cellular development of brain will be modulated by the changes in the various cellular fractions of the brain.