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Updated: May 5, 2026
Quantitative Autoradiographic Method for Determination of Regional Rates of Cerebral Protein Synthesis In Vivo
Published on: June 28, 2019
Selective decrease of S-100 in discrete anatomical areas of undernourished rat brain
B W Moore1, R Menke, A L Prensky
1Departments of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, USA.
Insights
Early-life malnutrition in rats reduced levels of the glial protein S-100 in the brain. Neuronal protein 14-3-2 levels remained unaffected, suggesting specific impacts on glial cells during development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Early-life nutrition is critical for brain development.
- Malnutrition can have long-lasting effects on neurological structures and functions.
- Specific protein markers can indicate cellular health and development in the brain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of early-life undernutrition on specific brain proteins in developing rats.
- To compare the effects of malnutrition on glial versus neuronal protein concentrations.
Main Methods:
- Rats were subjected to undernutrition from birth to 28 days of age.
- Concentrations of glial protein S-100 and neuronal protein 14-3-2 were measured in different brain regions (cerebral cortex, diencephalon).
- Protein levels were compared between undernourished rats and well-fed controls.
Main Results:
- Undernourished rats showed significantly decreased concentrations of S-100 in the cerebral cortex (77-74% of controls) and diencephalon (68% of controls) by 21-28 days of age.
- In contrast, the concentration of the neuronal protein 14-3-2 was not significantly different from controls in any brain area at 21 days of age.
- These findings indicate a selective impact of early malnutrition on glial cells.
Conclusions:
- Early-life undernutrition selectively reduces the concentration of the glial-specific protein S-100 in the developing rat brain.
- The neuronal protein 14-3-2 appears less vulnerable to the effects of malnutrition during this developmental period.
- These results highlight the specific sensitivity of glial development to nutritional status in early life.
Abstract:
Rats undernourished from birth to 28 days of age demonstrated decreases in the concentration of the glial specific protein S-100. The concentration of S-100 in cerebral cortex was 77% and 74% that of well-fed controls at 21 and 28 days of age, respectively, while in the diencephalon the concentration of S-100 was 68% that of the controls at 28 days of age. In contrast, the concentration of 14-3-2, a neuronal protein, does not differ from controls in any area of brain at 21 days of age.
