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Biochemical determinants of growth sparing during neonatal nutritional deprivation or enhancement: ornithine decarboxylase, polyamines, and macromolecules in brain regions and heart.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bell, JM; Whitmore, WL; Queen, KL; Orband-Miller, L; Slotkin, TA
Published in: Pediatr Res
November 1987

In order to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms operating to protect the brain from growth retardation in response to nutritional deprivation, comparisons were made of markers of cellular development in brain regions (cerebellum, cerebral cortex, midbrain + brainstem) and in a tissue which is not spared (heart). Nutritional status of neonatal rats was manipulated by increasing or decreasing the litter size beginning at birth, and development of DNA, RNA, and proteins followed throughout the neonatal period. In addition, we assessed the activity and levels of ornithine decarboxylase and its metabolic products, the polyamines, which are known to coordinate macromolecule synthesis in immature tissue and to provide an early index of perturbed development. Cardiac ornithine decarboxylase and polyamines were altered within 48 h of initiating the changes in litter size, and the direction and magnitude of these biochemical effects were predictive of subsequent impairment or enhancement of organ growth and of cellular development. All three brain regions were buffered from growth alterations relative to the heart, but the cerebellum, which undergoes major phases of cell replication later than the other two regions, was somewhat less protected. The spared brain regions also showed evidence of compensatory hypertrophy in nutritional deprivation (increased protein/DNA ratio) which accounts for maintenance of growth in the presence of reduced cell numbers. Thus, brain growth sparing involves specific cellular responses which are dependent on the maturational profile of each brain region.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Pediatr Res

DOI

ISSN

0031-3998

Publication Date

November 1987

Volume

22

Issue

5

Start / End Page

599 / 604

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Rats
  • RNA
  • Proteins
  • Protein-Energy Malnutrition
  • Polyamines
  • Pediatrics
  • Ornithine Decarboxylase
  • Myocardium
  • Litter Size
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Bell, J. M., Whitmore, W. L., Queen, K. L., Orband-Miller, L., & Slotkin, T. A. (1987). Biochemical determinants of growth sparing during neonatal nutritional deprivation or enhancement: ornithine decarboxylase, polyamines, and macromolecules in brain regions and heart. Pediatr Res, 22(5), 599–604. https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198711000-00024
Bell, J. M., W. L. Whitmore, K. L. Queen, L. Orband-Miller, and T. A. Slotkin. “Biochemical determinants of growth sparing during neonatal nutritional deprivation or enhancement: ornithine decarboxylase, polyamines, and macromolecules in brain regions and heart.Pediatr Res 22, no. 5 (November 1987): 599–604. https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198711000-00024.
Bell, J. M., et al. “Biochemical determinants of growth sparing during neonatal nutritional deprivation or enhancement: ornithine decarboxylase, polyamines, and macromolecules in brain regions and heart.Pediatr Res, vol. 22, no. 5, Nov. 1987, pp. 599–604. Pubmed, doi:10.1203/00006450-198711000-00024.

Published In

Pediatr Res

DOI

ISSN

0031-3998

Publication Date

November 1987

Volume

22

Issue

5

Start / End Page

599 / 604

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Rats
  • RNA
  • Proteins
  • Protein-Energy Malnutrition
  • Polyamines
  • Pediatrics
  • Ornithine Decarboxylase
  • Myocardium
  • Litter Size