Summary
Pregnant New Zealand rabbits were fed on a low-protein, low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet during the second half of gestation and during the subsequent period of lactation. Baby rabbits born to these protein-restricted does and suckled by them for two or more weeks showed loss of fur, stunted growth, fatty metamorphosis and increased glycogen storage in the liver, and atrophy of pancreatic acinear cells associated with loss of zymogen granules as well as widespread cytoplasmic vacuolization. It is suggested that the changes observed are not merely the effect of caloric restriction but also reflect a more specific nutritional deficiency (protein deficiency) transmitted by the mother rabbit to her offspring.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blackburn, W. R., Vinijchaikul, K.: The pancreas in kwashiorkor: An electron microscopic study. Lab. Invest. 20, 305–318 (1969)
Camain, R., Rouiller, C., Dupin, H.: Evolution de la stéatose hépatique dans le kwashiorkor sous l'influence du régime hyperprotidique. Étude en microscopie normal et électronique. Ann. Anat. path. 4, 220–241 (1959)
Caulfield, J. B.: Effects of varying the vehicle for OsO4 in tissue fixation. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 3, 827–830 (1957)
Chow, B. F., Lee, C. J.: Effect of dietary restriction of pregnant rats on body weight gain of offspring. J. Nutr. 82, 10–18 (1964)
Curtiss, C.: Effects of a low protein intake on the pregnant rat. Metabolism 2, 344–353 (1953)
Davies, J. N. P.: The essential pathology of kwashiorkor. Lancet 1948II, 317–320
Deo, M. G., Sood, S. K., Ramalingaswami, V.: Experimental protein deficiency: Pathological features in the rhesus monkey. Arch. Path. 80, 14–23 (1965)
Enwonwu, C. O., Sreebny, L. M.: Experimental protein-calorie malnutrition in rats: Biochemical and ultrastructural studies. Exp. molec. Path. 12, 332–353 (1970)
Farber, E., Popper, H.: Production of acute pancreatitis with ethionine and its prevention by methionine. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N.Y.) 74, 838–840 (1950)
Friedberg, F., Tarver, H., Greenberg, D. M.: The distribution pattern of sulfur-labeled methionine in the protein and the free amino acid fraction of tissues after intravenous administration. J. biol. Chem. 173, 355–361 (1948)
Gillman, J., Gillman, T.: Perspectives in human malnutrition: A contribution to the biology and disease from a clinical and pathological study of chronic malnutrition and pellagra in the African, p. 201–213. New York: Grune & Stratton 1951
Griffiths, M.: The mechanism of the diabetogenic action of uric acid. J. biol. Chem. 184, 289–298 (1950)
Herman, L., Fitzgerald, P. J.: The degenerative changes in pancreatic acinar cells caused by DL-ethionine. J. Cell Biol. 12, 277–296 (1962)
Hruban, Z., Swift, H., Wissler, R. W.: Effect of B-3-thienylalanine on the formation of zymogen granules of exocrine pancreas. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 7, 359–372 (1962)
Lazarus, S. S., Volk, B. W.: The pancreas in human and experimental diabetes, p. 257–267. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1962
Lazarus, S. S., Volk, B. W.: Electron microscopy and histochemistry of rabbit pancreas in protein malnutrition (experimental kwashiorkor). Amer. J. Path. 44, 95–111 (1964)
Lazarus, S. S., Volk, B. W.: Ultrastructure and acid phosphatase distribution in the pancreas of rabbits: A comparison of alterations following protein deficiency and semistarvation diets. Arch. Path. 80, 135–147 (1965)
Leathem, J. H.: Extra-gonadal factors in reproduction. In: Lloyd, C. W., ed. Recent progress in the endocrinology of reproduction, p. 179–203. New York: Academic Press, 1959
Luft, J. H.: Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 9, 409–414 (1961)
Macomber, D.: Studies of reproduction in the rat. I. The effect of changes in the protein upon the fertility, pregnancy and lactation. New Engl. J. Med. 209, 1105–1109 (1953)
Manual for Laboratory Animal Care, Section 2, p. 21, Ralston Purina Company, St. Louis, Missouri (1961)
McCoy, R. H.: Effects of different levels of protein in the diet of the rat. J. biol. Chem. 133, 64–65, Abstract (1940)
Naeye, R. L., Diener, M. M., Harcke, H. T., Jr., Blanc, W. A.: Relation of poverty and race to birth weight and organ and cell structure in the newborn. Pediat. Res. 5, 17–22 (1971)
Nelson, M. M., Evans, H. M.: Relation of dietary protein levels to reproduction in the rat. J. Nutr. 51, 71–84 (1953)
Reynolds, E. S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain for electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 17, 208–212 (1963)
Seegers, W. H.: The effect of protein deficiency on the course of pregnancy. Amer. J. Physiol. 119, 474–479 (1937)
Sidransky, H., Verney, E.: Chemical pathology of acute amino acid deficiencies. VII. Morphologic and biochemical changes in young rats force-fed arginine-, leucine, isoleucine-, or phenylalanine-devoid diets. Arch. Path. 78, 134–148 (1964)
Svoboda, D., Grady, H., Higginson, J.: The effects of chronic protein deficiency in rats. II. Biochemical and ultrastructural changes. Lab. Invest. 15, 731–749 (1966)
Svoboda, D., Higginson, J.: Ultrastructural changes produced by protein and related deficiencies in the rat liver. Amer. J. Path. 45, 353–379 (1964)
Theron, J. J., Liebenberg, N.: Some observations on the fine cytology of the parenchymal liver cells in kwashiorkor patients. J. Path. Bact. 86, 109–112 (1963)
Trowell, H. C., Davies, J. N. P., Dean, R. F. A.: Kwashiorkor. London: Edward Arnold, Ltd. 1954
Venkatachalam, P. S., Ramanathan, K. S.: Effect of protein deficiency during gestation and lactation on body weight and composition of offspring. J. Nutr. 84, 38–42 (1964)
Volk, B. W., Lazarus, S. S.: Rabbit pancreas in protein malnutrition (experimental kwashiorkor) and after cortisone administration. Amer. J. Path. 37, 121–135 (1960)
Weisblum, B., Herman, L., Fitzgerald, P. J.: Changes in pancreatic acinar cells during protein deprivation. J. Cell Biol. 12, 313–327 (1962)
Zeman, F. J.: Effect on the young rat of maternal protein restriction. J. Nutr. 93, 167–173 (1967)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (A-2203).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wellmann, K.F., Adachi, M. & Volk, B.W. Pancreatic and hepatic ultrastructure in offspring of rabbits with protein malnutrition. Virchows Arch. Abt. A Path. Anat. 360, 327–337 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00548353
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00548353