The effect of starvation on the rate of protein synthesis in rat liver and small intestine

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Abstract
A method is described that allows for measurement of protein synthesis in liver and intestine in the rat. By injecting a massive amount of [14C]leucine (100 .mu.mol/100 g body wt) an attempt was made to overcome problems of precursor specific radioactivity and problems arising from the breakdown of labeled protein that are encountered when tracer amounts of amino acids are used. Starvation for 2 days resulted in a decline in the rate of total liver protein synthesis from 87-62%/day. In jejunal mucosa the rate of protein synthesis was 136%/day. This declined to 105%/day after 2 days of starvation.