Leucine Is Essential for Attenuating Fetal Growth Restriction Caused by a Protein-Restricted Diet in Rats

Autor(es)

Resende Teodoro, Gabriela Fullin ^[1] ; Vianna, Daiana ^[1] ; Torres-Leal, Francisco Leonardo ^[1] ; Pantaleao, Lucas Carminatti ^[1] ; Matos-Neto, Emidio Marques ^[1] ; Donato, Jr., Jose ^[2] ; Tirapegui, Julio ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Food Sci & Expt Nutr, Fac Pharmaceut Sci, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Physiol & Biophys, Inst Biomed Sci, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Journal of Nutrition; v. 142, n. 5, p. 924-930, MAY 2012.
• Citações Web of Science: 29

Resumo

Certain amino acids, such as leucine (Leu) are not only substrates for protein synthesis but also are important regulators of protein metabolism. Moreover, it is known that alterations in intrauterine growth favor the development of chronic diseases in adulthood. Therefore, we investigated the role of Leu in combination with other BCAA on effects that are induced by maternal protein restriction on fetal growth. Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups according to the diet provided during pregnancy: control (C; 20% casein); V+I {[}5% casein + 2% L-valine (Val) + 2% L-isoleucine (Ile)1; KYT 15% casein + 1.8% L-lysine (Lys) + 1.2% L-tyrosine (Tyr) + 1% L-threonine (Thr)1; and BCAA (5% casein + 1.8% L-Leu + 1.2% L-Val + 1% L-Ile). Maternal protein restriction reduced the growth and organ weight of the offspring of dams receiving the V+I and KYT diets compared with the C group. Supplementation with BCAA reversed this growth deficit, minimizing the difference or restoring the mass of organs and carcass fat, the liver and muscle protein, and the RNA concentrations compared with newborns in the C group (P < 0.05). These effects could be explained by the activation of the mTOR signaling pathway, because phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 in the liver of offspring of the BCAA group was greater than that in the C, V+I, and KYT groups. The present results identify a critical role for Leu in association with other BCAA in the activation of the mTOR signaling pathway for the control of altered intrauterine growth induced by a maternal low-protein diet. J. Nutr. 142: 924-930, 2012. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 07/59291-3 - Efeitos da suplementação com leucina e do exercício físico sobre a composição corporal e as concentrações séricas de adipocinas em ratos previamente submetidos a uma dieta hiperlipídica
• Beneficiário: Julio Orlando Tirapegui Toledo
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 07/51964-9 - Suplementacao com leucina nao reproduz os efeitos beneficos do exercicio fisico sobre a adiposidade e a homeostase glicemica de ratos apos dieta hiperlipidica.
• Beneficiário: Francisco Leonardo Torres Leal
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado