Effect of Protein Energy Deprivation on the Brain Enzymes of Glutamic Acid in Preweanling Rats

Abstract

The activities of rat brain enzymes, i.e. glutamine synthetase, glutamine transferase, glutaminase I, glutaminase II, glutamic acid decarboxylase and transaminases were found to increase with age during the preweanling period. In rats subjected to food deprivations for different periods, the activities of glutaminase I, glutaminase II and glutamic acid decarboxylase, were increased while those of glutamine transferase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase were significantly reduced. These changes during undernutrition produce increased levels of γ-aminobutyric acid in brain. Whether neurological manifestations in human protein energy malnutrition in form of apathy and mental dullness could be due to these biochemical changes is difficult to assess.