Abstract
Liver gamma-glutamyltranspetidase (GGT - EC 2.3.2.2) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were measured for male pups of adolescent rats on three occasions: delivery day (d1), in the middle of lactation (d10), and after weaning (d50). Pups were weaned on the same diets received by their mothers during gestation and up to the 10th day of lactation. Diets varied in protein content: 13% and 6% casein. Immediately after birth (d1 of lactation), high levels of enzyme activity were observed in all pups, but these levels had sharply decreased by d10. A significant rise in the pups' GGT activity was produced by protein restriction at d1 and d50. GSH was also significantly reduced by protein deprivation at d1 and d50. A clear interrelationship between liver GGT activity and GSH content could only be established for 50 day-old rats. These results indicate that chronic protein malnutrition exerts a special influence on both parameters in the growth period after weaning.
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