DNA (Cell Number) and Protein in Rat Brain

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Abstract
Female rats (F₀) were maintained on a normal (C) or a protein-restricted (8%) diet (R) 1 month prior to mating and throughout pregnancy. Their offspring (F1) were nursed by their natural or foster mothers on normal diet or protein-restricted diet. All offspring were maintained on normal diet after weaning; the females were mated with normal males, and one group of R males with normal females. The second generation (F2) was maintained on normal diet from birth. Body weight and cerebral weight, DNA and protein were measured in F1 and F2, at birth and at 30 and 90 days. Previously-reported developmental deficiencies were observed in F1 in all restricted groups at birth and at 30 days, but only in DNA of some groups at 90 days. The F2 offspring from all experimental females had at birth significantly lower cerebral DNA (cell number); in most groups this deficiency in F2 did not persist at 30 days. Cerebral deficiencies in newborn F2 resulting from protein restriction in F₀ or F1were transmitted to the next (F2) generation through females but not through males. Several explanations of this effect are offered.

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