Effects of Maternal Dietary Restriction on Hydroxyproline Levels in Urine and Tissues of the Young

Abstract

Summary

Studies to determine the effect of maternal dietary restriction during gestation and lactation on hydroxyproline excretion of the progeny were undertaken. Results indicate that urinary hydroxyproline excretion was consistently and significantly increased in the male and female progeny of dietary restricted mothers than those of ad libitum fed ones. Similar findings were obtained when the results were expressed either as amounts of hydroxyproline per unit of body weight or the ratio of hydroxyproline per milligram of creatinine. Whether this enhancement is due to changes in the pool size of any of the forms of collagen or changes in the rate of conversion of one form of collagen to another is not clear. Additional experiments revealed that a significant increase in ¹⁴CO₂ production was noted in the offspring from dietary restricted mothers after intramuscular injection of protein-U-¹⁴C. However, the in vivo incorporation of proline-¹⁴C into tissue proteins appeared to be unaffected by maternal dietary restriction.

The technical assistance of Mr. Albert Michael Johnson is gratefully acknowledged.