Vitamin A is required for reproduction and normal embryonic development. We have determined that all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) can support development of the mammalian embryo to parturition in vitamin A-deficient (VAD) rats. At embryonic day (E) 0.5, VAD dams were fed purified diets containing either 12 micrograms of atRA per g of diet (230 micrograms per rat per day) or 250 micrograms of atRA...

BACKGROUND Alone among autonomic neurones, enteric neurones are known to be vulnerable to age related cell death; over 50% may be lost in aging rodents. A previous study demonstrated unexpectedly that neurones of the myenteric plexus from rats fed a restricted diet appeared not to suffer from extensive cell death in contrast with previous studies of ad libitum fed animals. AIMS To compare mye...

We examined if large molecule protein feeding during the suckling period is prerequisite for the proper development of pancreatic digestive functions. Most amino acids in breast milk exist as the constituent of large proteins and not as oligopeptides or free amino acids. Accumulating evidence indicates the nutritional importance of large protein feeding for suckling infants; however, evidence o...

We established a necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) rat model and explored the role of bifidobacteria in the intestines of the rats and its regulation on intestinal Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Seventy-five newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (15 rats/group): group A, artificial feeding group (formula-fed); group B, NEC model (LPS + formula-fed); group C, bifidobacterium...

Hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) is significantly increased in the hyperthyroid starved rat, and moderately decreased in the hypothyroid starved rat. As tri-iodothyronine by itself has only a small and sustained effect on the induction of this enzyme, as was previously shown in the isolated perfused organ, the effect of hypo- and hyper-thyroidism on the increase in cytosolic PE...