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Postnatal changes of brain monoamine levels in prenatally malnourished and control rats
1Department of Pharmacology, Chang-Gung College of Medicine and Technology, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Insights
Prenatal protein malnutrition did not significantly alter rat brain monoamine neurotransmitters. Postnatal nutritional rehabilitation appears to counteract early nutritional insults, supporting normal brain development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Monoamine neurotransmitters (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin) are crucial for brain function.
- Prenatal nutrition significantly impacts neurodevelopment.
- Age-related changes in neurotransmitter systems are well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of age and prenatal protein malnutrition on monoamine neurotransmitters, metabolites, and precursors in specific rat brain regions.
- To understand the developmental trajectories of these neurochemicals.
- To assess the impact of postnatal nutritional rehabilitation.
Main Methods:
- Rats were fed a 6% casein diet during gestation (protein malnutrition).
- Neurotransmitter and metabolite concentrations were measured in the hippocampal formation, striatum, brain stem, and cerebral cortex at various ages (1-220 days).
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for quantification.
Main Results:
- Neurotransmitter concentrations (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine) exhibited dynamic, age-dependent changes, with distinct developmental patterns observed.
- Serotonin and striatal dopamine increased up to 45 days, then declined. Norepinephrine and non-striatal dopamine showed lowest levels at 30 days, increasing thereafter.
- Prenatal protein malnutrition had minimal impact, except for altered tryptophan and tyrosine levels in specific regions and ages; postnatal rehabilitation appeared to mitigate effects.
Conclusions:
- Monoamine neurotransmitter content in the rat brain undergoes significant dynamic changes during postnatal development.
- Prenatal protein malnutrition, despite initial alterations in precursors, did not cause lasting deficits in neurotransmitter concentrations, suggesting resilience with postnatal nutritional rehabilitation.
Abstract:
The effects of age and prenatal protein malnutrition (6% casein diet) on the concentration of monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites and precursors in the hippocampal formation, striatum, brain stem and cerebral cortex were investigated in 1-, 15-, 30-, 45-, 90- and 220-day-old rats. Concentrations of all neurotransmitters, i.e. dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin changed significantly during the development. However, two main patterns were recognized. Serotonin in all areas, and dopamine in the striatum, increased from birth to day 45, and declined significantly in 90-day-old rats. In contrast, norepinephrine in all areas, and dopamine in areas other than the striatum, showed the lowest levels in 30-day-old rats, with levels increasing gradually after this age. Concentrations of metabolites paralleled changes in corresponding neurotransmitter levels. Prenatal protein malnutrition did not significantly affect any neurotransmitter concentrations with the exception of increased tryptophan levels (181%) in the hippocampal formation of newborn rats and decreased tyrosine levels (59%) in the striatum of day 30 rats. The results indicate that the monoamine transmitter content varied dynamically throughout postnatal life; however, they seem to counteract the insult from prenatal protein malnutrition after postnatal nutritional rehabilitation.