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. 2002 Jun;22(3):365–372. doi: 10.1023/A:1020780220520

Effect of Undernutrition on GMP-PNP Binding and Adenylate Cyclase Activity from Rat Brain

Liane N Rotta 1,2, Cristina W Nogueira 3, Luciane da Silva 1, Félix A Soares 1, Marcos L S Perry 1, Diogo O Souza 1
PMCID: PMC11533781  PMID: 12469877

Abstract

1. Undernutrition is an insult that affects brain development and functioning. Considering that signaling through metabotropic receptors/G proteins is critical for normal synaptic transmission and contributes to CNS development and synaptic plasticity, the present study investigated the effects of pre- and postnatal protein deprivation (diet: 8% protein; normonourished group: 25% protein) on brain signal transduction by G proteins.

2. Undernutrition decreased the [3H] GMP-PNP binding to G proteins and AC activity, in neural plasma synaptic membranes of 21- and 75-day-old rats. This effect was less pronounced or even absent in old rats.

3. Ontogenetically, the dietary treatment effect might be interpreted as a retarded development associated with protein malnutrition.

Keywords: undernutrition, signal transduction, cAMP, CNS development, G proteins

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