title: Relationship between a long-term treatment of 2-mercaptoethanol and protein metabolism in the ageing rat.
abstract: Female RLEF1/Lati rats were chronically treated with 2-mercaptoethanol in a dose of 13 micrograms.100 g bw-1.day-1 dissolved in drinking water. During a 48-h experiment 15N-labelled glycine was given orally in a dose of 5 mg 15N.kg bw-1 and urine samples were collected and analysed by an emission spectrometric isotope method. Protein synthesis and nitrogen excretion rate constants were calculated according to the three-pool model, and 3-methylhistidine excretion rates were also determined. 2-Mercaptoethanol appears to influence protein metabolism; however, the slower rates of protein synthesis proved to be apparent in almost all groups of treated rats. Protein synthesis and nitrogen excretion rate constants have exceptionally high values in 2-year-old rats, possibly explained by the occurrence of hypercompensation mechanisms in old age. These were reflected by the excretion rates of 3-methylhistidine which were reduced as a result of sulphhydryl group interactions in age-dependent cellular metabolic changes.
authors.affiliation: German Institute of Nutritional Research, Bergholz-Rehbrücke.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pénzes
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Petzke
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoppe
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008762:Methylhistidines / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008762:Methylhistidines; D011506:Proteins; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; C028118:3-methylhistidine; D009584:Nitrogen; D005998:Glycine