Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T18:19:24.353Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Adaptations in protein metabolism during lactation in the rat

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Donald J. Naismith  and
Siân M. Robinson
Donald J. Naismith
Affiliation:
Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, Kensington, London W8 7AH
Siân M. Robinson
Affiliation:
Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, Kensington, London W8 7AH
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

1. The activities of two hepatic enzymes that participate in the regulation of amino acid oxidation and urea synthesis were measured in lactating rats (day 15 of lactation) and virgin controls. The enzymes were alanine aminotransferase (EC 2. 6. 1.2) and argininosuccinate synthase (EC 6. 3. 4.5). Carcasses of the dams were also analysed.

2. Changes in the activities of both enzymes in dams fed ad lib. on a diet containing an excess of protein indicated that amino acid oxidation was depressed. In dams restricted in protein to the level of intake of their controls but allowed to satisfy their needs for energy, enzyme activities were significantly reduced. In these animals lean tissue catabolism supplemented the dietary protein supply.

3. This adjustment in protein metabolism which effectively spares protein for milk-protein synthesis could be explained either by a reduction in the availability of substrate in the liver, or by the intervention of an anabolic hormone secreted in lactation.

Type
General Nutrition papers
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 58 , Issue 3 , November 1987 , pp. 533 - 538
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1987

References

REFERENCES

Amenomori, Y., Chen, C. L. & Meites, J. (1970). Endocrinology 86, 506–510.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, G. W., Brown, W. R. & Cohen, P. P. (1959). Journal of Biological Chemistry 234, 1775–1780.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Campbell, R. C. (1974). Statistics for Biologists, 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Chen, H. J., Mueller, G. P. & Meites, J. (1974). Endocrinological Research Communications 1, 283–291.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Das, T. K. & Waterlow, J. C. (1974). British Journal of Nutrition 32, 353–373.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kennedy, G. C., Pearce, W. M. & Parrot, D. M. (1958). Journal of Endocrinology 17, 158–160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McLean, P. & Gurney, M. W. (1963). Biochemical Journal 87, 96–104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mepham, T. B. (1977). Symposia of the Zoological Society of London no. 41. pp. 57–75.Google Scholar
Naismith, D. J. (1973). Nutrition Reports International 7, 383–390.Google Scholar
Naismith, D. J., Akinyanju, P. A. & Yudkin, J. (1969). Journal of Nutrition 97, 375–381.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Naismith, D. J., Richardson, D. P. & Pritchard, A. E. (1982). British Journal of Nutrition 48, 433–441.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Research Council (1978). Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals, 3rd ed. Washington, DC: National Academy of Science.Google Scholar
Schimke, R. T. (1962). Journal of Biological Chemistry 237, 459–468.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Segal, H. L. & Matsuzawa, T. (1970). In Methods in Enzymology, vol. 17A, pp. 153–159 [Tabor, H. and Tabor, C. W., editors], New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Sutter-Dub, M. T., Le Clercq, R., Sutter, B. C. J. & Jacquot, R. (1974). Hormone and Metabolic Research 6, 297–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar