Growth and reproductive adaptation in male rats with chronic protein deficiency

In previous studies, male rats fed a low-protein diet beginning at weaning were found to have impaired sexual development through age 11 weeks when compared to food-restricted, weight-matched controls fed a diet with normal protein content. To determine whether male rats show long-term adaptation of the reproductive axis to low-protein feeding, we assessed sexual maturation and growth in rats fed a low protein (9%) diet from weaning until sacrifice at various points in time between ages 79 and 185 days. After age 80 days, there was no difference in reproductive organ weights (prostate, seminal vesicles, testis) or serum hormone levels (luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, testosterone) between protein-deficient animals and food-restricted weight-matched controls given a normal diet. In addition, there was no difference between protein-deficient animals and controls in indices of linear growth (naso-anal and tail length) or fatness (Lee index). We conclude that both growth and reproductive function of male rats show adaptation to long term feeding of a low-protein diet.