ALCOHOL, AMINO-ACIDS, AND ALBUMIN SYNTHESIS .2. ALCOHOL INHIBITION OF ALBUMIN SYNTHESIS REVERSED BY ARGININE AND SPERMINE

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 71  (1) , 123-127
Abstract
The effects of ethanol and spermine on albumin synthesis and polysome aggregation were studied in the isolated in the isolated perfused rabbit liver system. Fed or fasted males served as donors. The perfusate contained, singly or in combination, alcohol, 200 mg/100 ml, spermine, 1 mM and arginine, 10 mM. In the presence of alcohol, using a liver from a fed donor, albumin synthesis is depressed from 16 to 6 mg/100 g of wet liver weight per h and the bound polysome is disaggregated. Spermine partially reaggregates the bound polysome and a combination of spermine and arginine augments albumin synthesis to the control rate. When the donor is fasted, and alcohol is present in the perfusate, the addition of spermine results in aggregated bound and free polysome patterns, whereas the combination of arginine and spermine is necessary to restimulate albumin synthesis. Spermine apparently plays an important role in the integrity of the polysome system. Arginine and spermine appears to be synergistic in maintaining albumin synthesis.