Protein synthesis in muscle of mature sheep

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Protein synthesis was measured in wether sheep by constant intravenous infusion of [3H]tyrosine. The specific radioactivity of plasma tyrosine at plateau was used to calculate tyrosine flux and the rate of protein synthesis in the whole body was estimated. For wethers fed hay and concentrates tyrosine flux was 2·46 mmol/h and protein synthesized was 5·29 g/kg body weight per day. Corresponding values for wethers fed barley straw were 30–35% lower.Fractional rates of protein synthesis in individual muscles were between 2 and 3% per day for diaphragm, longissimus dorsi, gastrocnemius, semitendinosus and vastus lateralis muscles from wethers fed hay and concentrates, but the value for vastus intermedius was higher. Corresponding rates for wethers fed barley straw were 18–36% lower.