1987 Volume 3 Issue 1 Pages 79-85
In order to explain decreased synthesis of myelin and reduced functional activity of brain as a result of early undernutrition, studies were undertaken to determine the activities of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase and glutamine synthetase as markers of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes and that of lactic dehydrogenase as a multifunctional enzyme, at different stages of brain development in different brain regions, viz. cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem. Undernutrition was imposed in mother rats by feed restriction during the last week of pregnancy and through lactation. The undernourished group received 50% of the calories consumed by the control group which was reared on Lab Chow (22% protein) ad libitum. Results showed progressive increase in the activities of these enzymes in rat pups as a function of age. Undernutrition caused a significant decrease in the activities of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase and glutamine synthetase in all the regions, especially during the 2nd and 3rd week of post-natal age. The magnitude of difference due to nutritional stress with respect to lactic dehydrogenase was relatively low. These results have possible implications regarding myelinogenesis and glutamic acid metabolism in undernourished rats.
