Branched chain amino acids improve complex maze learning in rat offspring prenatally exposed to hyperphenylalaninemia: implications for maternal phenylketonuria.

Maternal phenylketonuria results in a high incidence of children born who are mentally retarded. It has been suggested that blood-brain-barrier transport of phenylalanine may be reduced by competitive inhibition of transporter uptake by supplemental administration of other large neutral amino acids. We hypothesized that large neutral amino acids might also be effective at improving the outcome of fetuses exposed to hyperphenylalaninemia in utero. If correct, sparing of embryonic CNS development might be possible. Pregnant rats were given a hyperphenylalaninemic diet alone or the same diet supplemented with a combination of valine, isoleucine, and leucine. As adults, the progeny exposed in utero to hyperphenylalaninemia showed characteristic learning deficits in a complex maze, while those exposed in utero to hyperphenylalaninemia combined with valine, isoleucine, and leucine showed no deficits in maze acquisition. The valine, isoleucine, and leucine supplement may show promise as a treatment for intrauterinely acquired mental deficiency associated with maternal phenylketonuria.