Effect of pre- and postnatal protein undernutrition on glycemia, ketonemia and liver glycogen concentration in suckling rats

Pregnant Wistar rats were fed ad libitum diets containing either 25% (control) or 8% casein (undernourished) from conception through the gestation and lactation periods. Rats from undernourished dams had lower birth weights than control rats and this difference persisted up to day 21 of postnatal life. Livers obtained from undernourished animals aged 10, 15 and 20 days weighed 50% less than control livers. Liver glycogen concentration was much higher in 7- and 10-day-old undernourished rats than in normal rats, but no differences were observed between groups aged 15 or 20 days. Malnutrition caused a decrease in glycemia from 10 days of age and an increase in ketonemia at 10 and 15 days of age. The results show that pre- and postnatal protein malnutrition causes changes in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in rats during the period of brain growth spurt.