Effect of protein malnutrition on glycoprotein synthesis by testes of 20-day-old rats.

Abstract

The effects of protein malnutrition during the nursing period on glycoprotein biosynthesis by testes of 20-day-old rats was studied. Pregnant Wistar rats were housed individually. On the day of delivery they were divided into two groups: one was fed a control diet (25% casein) and the other a low-protein diet (8% casein) for a period of 20 days. Body and testis weights of pups suckled by the malnourished mothers were significantly lower than those of the pups suckled by normally-fed mothers. The seminiferous tubules o malnourished rats showed a significant decrease in diameter and in the stage of development of spermatogenesis. Whole testes of normally-fed 20-day-old rats showed significantly greater [2-3H]mannose incorporation into glycoproteins than did the testes of malnourished rats of the same age. The microsomes of normally-fed rats showed significantly higher GDP: mannose polyprenyl mannosyl transferase activity than did microsomes from malnourished rats, and this difference increased when exogenous dolichyl-phosphate was added to the incubation medium. These results indicate that protein malnutrition decreases GDP: mannose polyprenyl mannosyl transferase activity in the microsomes of testes from 20-day-old rats.

• Authors: R Guaragna, N B Rosa, G G Moraes, M L Perry, E A Bernard
• Journal: International journal of andrology (Int J Androl) Vol. 9 Issue 6 Pg. 467-76 (Dec 1986) ISSN: 0105-6263 [Print] England
• PMID: 3570536 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Glycoproteins
• Dolichol Monophosphate Mannose

Topics

• Animals
• Animals, Suckling
• Body Weight
• Dolichol Monophosphate Mannose (biosynthesis)
• Glycoproteins (biosynthesis)
• Male
• Microsomes (metabolism)
• Organ Size
• Protein Deficiency (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Strains
• Testis (metabolism)