RAT MODELS OF PROTEIN AND PROTEIN-ENERGY MALNUTRITION

Two animal models of infantile malnutrition were produced where some a spects of carbohydrate metabolism can be studied: protein-depleted (PD , <<kwashiorkor>>) rats, fed a protein-free diet for 18 days, starting 3 days before weaning, and chronically malnourished animals during su ckling (PED, <<marasmus>>) where 20-22 pups were fed by the same dam. PED and PD rats were sacrificed at 21 and 36 days of age, respectively . Body weight was 35% in PD, and 50% in PED groups when compared to th eir age-matched controls. After an overnight fast, some of the PD anim als presented with low blood glucose levels, and the levels of lactic and pyruvic acids were depressed in PED, while lactic acid was increas ed in PD animals. Blood glucose utilization was reduced in PED, and in creased in PD rats, while the opposite was true for the kidney glucone ogenic capacity. When compared to the respective control values, muscl e glycogen was high in both groups, while the level of liver glycogen was unchanged. The rate of muscle glycolysis was decreased in both gro ups. These results are in agreement with clinical observations, sugges ting that these models may be used to study some of the metabolic chan ges brought about by infantile malnutrition.