[TRH and cyclo (His-Pro) concentrations in the young rat brain are altered by a liquid protein diet]

Effects of liquid protein diet (LPD), that is known to be poor in protein quality, on brain TRH and cyclo (His-Pro) concentrations were explored in young male rats. At day 23 of weaning, the animals were fed either a 20% casein diet ad libitum or a 20% LPD, or were pair-fed with a 20% casein diet. They were decapitated at day 35 or day 48. The body weight of those in the LPD group decreased significantly, and the loss was sustained in comparison with those in the pair-fed and ad libitum groups. The extrahypothalamic cyclo (His-Pro) concentrations were significantly greater in the LPD group than in the pair-fed and ad libitum groups throughout the experimental period, whereas these concentrations were similar in the pair-fed and ad libitum groups. At day 48, TRH concentrations in the hypothalamus and extrahypothalamus also increased in the LPD group in comparison with the concentrations in ad libitum group. These data indicate that quality of the protein component in the diet has a potential effect on alteration in the neuropeptides, TRH and cyclo (His-Pro), in the young rat brain.