Hyperphenylalaninemia: effect on the developing rat brain

Abstract
Hyperphenylalaninemia was produced by injecting L-phenylalanine into suckling rats on two occasions within 2 h, daily from 2 to 20 days. Serum phenylalanine levels over 20 mg/100 ml were maintained for more than 12 h. The brains of the experimental animals weighed less and contained less myelin lipid than those of controls.