Free amino acids in plasma and tissue of rats born to underfed dams.

Amino acids were determined in plasma, muscle, and liver tissues of adult male rats born of mothers on restricted or nonrestricted diets during pregnancy and lactation. The concentrations of plasma alanine, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, arginine, and valine were significantly lower in the progeny of restricted mothers as compared to non-restricted mothers. Similar changes were observed in liver tissues. The concentrations of free amino acids in muscle of the perinatally malnourished progeny, however, did not differ significantly from those of the controls. The differences determined in this study are of special significance in view of the fact that the animals studied had been maintained on an adequate diet since weaning. The demonstrated effect of the maternal diet on the plasma aminogram of the off-spring some months later must be considered when interpreting plasma aminograms in studies of malnourished children.