Abstract
Ca2+‐ATPases are key proteins for the maintenance of calcium homeostasis and essential to the correct functioning of cell machinery. Reports indicates that exposure of cell to oxidative injury will affect Ca2+‐ATPase. In this study, we investigated the effect of Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) on Ca2+‐ATPases and the ameliorating effect of Moringa oliefera leaves. Eighteen Wistar rats randomized into groups A and B were used for the study. Group A (12 rats) were placed on protein deficient diet while group B (6 rats) were placed on protein sufficient diet. They were maintained on respective diets for 6 weeks after which all rats in group B and 6 rats in group A were sacrificed. The remaining rats in group A (relabeled as C) were maintained on protein deficient diet supplemented with Moringa oliefera leaves for another 6 weeks and then sacrificed. The skeletal muscle, brain and liver were removed and homogenized. Ca2+‐ATPase specific activities in the selected tissues and the enzyme’s kinetic constants were then determined and compared. Our result indicates that Ca2+‐ATPases activity (for all the organs) was highest in group C and lowest in the protein deficient rats not supplemented (A). The activity was also highest in the skeletal muscle and lowest in the liver (for all the groups). The Km and Vmax (for all the organs) was lowest in group C and highest in group A. Our result suggest that PEM reduces the activity of Ca2+‐ATPases and that Moringa oliefera is more efficacious than fish in regulating the enzyme activity.
Published Version
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