Developmental changes in response to overfeeding: effect on composition of gain, liver metabolism and adipocyte cellularity in rats.
It has been proposed that voluntary food intake limits growth rate. The experiment described here investigated the effects of increased food intake on growth rate. Four age groups of female rats were given either 150 or 100 of ad libitum intake by oral gavage. Animals were tube-fed at these levels of intake for 1 wk. Overfeeding significantly increased carcass weight and fat for all ages examined. Carcass protein was significantly elevated in the overfed animals for the two youngest age groups. Differences between age groups in apparent energetic efficiency were small. Hepatic palmitate oxidation was depressed and esterification increased in all overfed rats. Fat cell size was increased by overfeeding in all age groups. In conclusion, the effects of overfeeding on the four age groups of rats studied were independent of age.
Drewry
M M
MM
Department of Foods and Nutrition, College of Home Economics, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
Harris
R B
RB
Martin
R J
RJ
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004951:Esterification; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006128:Growth; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D010169:Palmitic Acids; D019308:Palmitic Acid