Rats were pair-fed isocaloric diets containing either 25 % (control diet) or 6 % protein
(low-protein diet) during the 5 weeks prior to conception and through the gestation
and lactation periods; then, carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT-I) activity was
determined in liver and skeletal muscle mitochondria isolated from the corresponding
pups. Maternal protein undernutrition increased the activity of hepatic CPT-I all
along the suckling period, whereas the activity of the skeletal muscle enzyme was
unaffected. Moreover, the sensitivity of hepatic CPT-I to inhibition by bothmalonyl-CoA
and 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxylate was decreased in the low-protein group. These alterations
in the properties of hepatic CPT-I may be involved in the appearance of hyperketonemia
in the rat pup upon maternal administration of low-protein diets.
Protein Undernutrition - Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase I - Malonyl-CoA - 4-Hydroxyphenylglyoxylate
- Rat-Pup Liver
