The aim of this study was to investigate the reproductive, biochemical, and
hematological outcomes of pregnant rats exposed to protein restriction. Wistar
rat dams were fed a control normal-protein (NP, 17% protein, n=8) or a
low-protein (LP, 8% protein, n=14) diet from the 1st to the 20th day of
pregnancy. On the 20th day, the clinical signs of toxicity were evaluated. The
pregnant rats were then anesthetized and blood samples were collected for
biochemical-hematological analyses, and laparotomy was performed to evaluate
reproductive parameters. No sign of toxicity, or differences (P>0.05) in body
weight gain and biochemical parameters (urea, creatinine, albumin, globulin, and
total protein) between NP and LP pregnant dams were observed. Similarly,
hematological data, including red blood cell count, white blood cell count,
hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell distribution width (coefficient of
variation), mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean
corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, % lymphocytes, absolute lymphocyte count,
platelet count, and mean platelet volume were similar (P>0.05) at the end of
pregnancy. Reproductive parameters (the dam-offspring relationship, ovary mass,
placenta mass, number of corpora lutea, implantation index, resorption index,
and the pre- and post-implantation loss rates) were also not different
(P>0.05) between NP and LP pregnant dams. The present data showed that a
protein-restricted diet during pregnancy did not alter reproductive,
biochemical, and hematological parameters and seems not to have any toxic effect
on pregnant Wistar rats.
