Effects of maternal nutritional stress on synaptic plasma membrane proteins and glycoproteins in offspring

Abstract

An earlier study in this laboratory demonstrated a 33 to 50% deficiency of synaptic plasma membrane (SPM) proteins in the brains of developing offspring of rats that were fed a protein-deficient diet during lactation. We have demonstrated that an SPM deficit persisted if the nutritional stress (in this case postnatal protein-calorie deficiency) was continued on a long-term basis. If nutritional rehabilitation was instituted on the 21st postnatal day, however, the SPM deficit was reversible. We also demonstrated abnormalities in the synthesis of fucosylated SPM glycoproteins in the developing offspring rats subjected to protein or protein-calorie deficient diets and in rehabilitated offspring. These abnormalities were detected using sensitive double-label isotopic procedures. Few abnormalities were found in the relative distribution of the dye-binding capacity of SPM proteins from developing control, undernourished, or rehabilitated rats on polyacrylamide gels that had been stained with Coomassie blue. The potential cause and importance of abnormalities in synaptic glycoproteins is discussed.