Add two--mental retardation
Dr. Waisman and co-workers have been able to elevate the blood plasma
levels of various amino acids in rats by feeding them high amounts of the amino
acids, using an alternate light and dark room cycle. The feeding patterns in the
rats change and the plasma levels of, for example, phenylalanine, can be raised
approximately 15 times above normal. Learning and behavior patterns in these rats
are now being studied. They also intend to do biochemical studies on the body tissue
of these rats.
A few mentally retarded patients from state insitutions have been
hospitalized in order that metabolic studies, in the form of collection of blood
and urine following amino acid "overloading" may be done. If extra amounts of
amino acids or other products are present in the urine or blood, or the pattern of
amino acid excretion is changed, this may again be due to an inborn error of
metabolism.
Dr. Waisman says that he may again visit all state institutions in an
effort to test for other disease of chemical origin that may be causing
retardation.
Another research project is to try to understand enzymes in the brain and
how they function in normal workings of the brain.
Dr. Waisman's associates in these studies are Dr. Theo Gerritsen, Dr. Hwa
Lih Wang, Dr. Robert H. Weaver, Dr. Lynnette H. Doeg, Dr. V. R. Harwalkar, Dr. V. J.
Polidora, Phyllis Berman, Gail Palmer, Chris Ripp, and Mary Blankenheim.