These experiments were designed to study the influence of early protein undernutrition on growth, behaviors toward food, general attitude toward a new environment, brain size and body composition of the experimental rats.
The following experimental groups were studied.
Lactation period (3 weeks) After-weaning protein deprivation period (Diets of mother rats)
25% Casein diet None deprivation (25016 Casein diet)
12,,0o Casein diet None deprivation (25,,016 Casein diet)
25010 Casein diet 5io´ Casein diet (4 weeks)
25% Casein diet 5% Casein diet (8 weeks)
12016 Casein diet 550o Casein diet (4 weeks)
12016 Casein diet 5% Casein diet (8 weeks)
After a long period of rehabilitation with 25% casein diet the following results were obtained.
1. Growth rate during lactation period is closely related with the protein levels of the diet for mother rats. The average body weight of offsprings of the mother rat fed 25% casein diet is 46. 0 grams at 21 days old. However, that of the mother rat fed 12% casein diet is only 25. 0 grams.
2. The group of protein undernutrition during lactation (3 weeks) (offsprings of mother rat fed low protein diet, 12% casein diet) could never catch up with the normal group in its growth even after twenty-four (24) weeks of rehabilitation.
3. However, the groups of protein undernutrition during either four (4) or even eight (8) weeks after weaning could catch up with the normal group in their growth after long period of rehabilitation.
4. The absolute amounts of carcass protein and fat of the normal group are larger than those of the protein deficient groups. In terms of percent carcass, however, the normal group showed higher body fat and lower body protein than the early deficient groups. However, there is no difference between poeweaning (3 weeks) and postweaning (8 weeks) deficient groups. It is assumed, from these differences in body composition, that there might be any differences in physiological and metabolic functions among these various groups, and also that the basic formation of various metabolic regulators (protein-nature) might be fixed mostly during lactation and postweaning period.
5. The groups of protein_ undernutrition during either three (3) weeks lactation or four (4) weeks after weaning are not so remarkably different from the normal group in their amounts of food l intake and spillage. However, the groups of undernutrition during either eight (8) weeks postweaning or eleven (11) weeks (3 weeks lactation period plus 8 weeks postweaning period) showed higher amounts of food intake and spillage. In these respects, it seems that desire for food is closely related with the degree of early hunger in protein and also seems that the longer be deficient in early life the more food spillage is found.
6. Both poeweaning and postweaning deficient groups showed generally nervous and restless. The normal group is staid and showed less mobilities.
7. The average size of the brains of the group subjected to protein deficiency during three (3) weeks lactation period is smaller than that of the group of the eight (8) weeks postweaning deficiency. This means that the development of the brain is made mostly during lactation period. The group of the eleven (11) weeks postnatal deficiency is significantly different from the normal group in its brain development.
It is assumed, in connection with the results of various maze tests reported, that the brain size is closely related with the intellectual ability.
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