Korean J Nutr.  2007 Mar;40(2):130-137.

Effects of Maternal Folic Acid Nutritional Status on the Expression of Myelin Basic Protein in the Offspring

• Chae EH
• Kim SJ
• Lee HY
• Chang N

Abstract

Myelin basic protein (MBP ), a major structural protein of the myelin, is thought to be important for the maintenance of myelin in the central nervous system (CNS ). We investigated the effect of maternal folic acid nutritional status on the folate level and the synthesis of MBP in the offspring. In order to test this hypothesis, female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either folic acid sufficient (8 mg/kg diet )or deficient (0 mg/kg diet )diet from 2 wks prior to the mating throughout the entire pregnancy, lactation and weaning period. We examined plasma folate level by the radioimmunoassay and homo-cysteine level by HPLC, respectively. The MBP expression was measured by the western blot analysis. The maternal folic acid deficiency decreased plasma folate level with a concomitant increase in plasma homocysteine level in their offspring. The maternal folic acid deficiency decreased hepatic levels of SAM and SAM/SAH ratio with a concomitant increase in hepatic levels of SAH and the MBP expression of spinal cord in their offspring at 7 wks of age. These results suggest that maternal folic acid nutritional status affect plasma folate and homocysteine level in their offspring. Moreover, the maternal folic acid deficiency might inhibit the MBP expression of the spinal cord and disrupt many other vital CNS reac-tions in their offspring.

Keyword

myelin basic protein (MBP ); folate; SAM/SAH ratio; spinal cord

MeSH Terms

Blotting, Western
Central Nervous System
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
Diet
Female
Folic Acid Deficiency
Folic Acid*
Homocysteine
Humans
Lactation
Myelin Basic Protein*
Myelin Sheath*
Nutritional Status*
Plasma
Pregnancy
Radioimmunoassay
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Spinal Cord
Weaning
Folic Acid
Homocysteine
Myelin Basic Protein