title: Influence of dietary protein level on protein self-selection and plasma and brain amino acid concentrations.
abstract: Control of protein intake was studied in young rats that were allowed to choose between either protein-free and 55% casein diets or 15% and 55% casein diets. Animals on the protein-free vs. 55% casein regimen exhibited a lower weight gain, a lower cumulative energy intake and a greater cumulative total protein intake during the 13-day study compared to rats selecting between 15% and 55% casein. The daily average proportion of total food selected as casein by animals choosing between protein-free and 55% casein diets increased from 15% to 38% during the course of the study. In contrast, rats choosing between 15% and 55% casein chose 18-22% of total food as protein throughout the entire study. Long-term protein intake or protein selection did not correlate significantly with whole-brain contents of 5-HT or 5-HIAA. Our results suggest that protein intake is not regulated at a constant proportion of total calories, but is controlled between a minimum level that will support rapid growth and a maximum that, if exceeded, would require the animal to undergo substantial metabolic adaptation. The mechanism controlling protein selection may involve diet-induced changes in the brain content of total free indispensable amino acids.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002364:Caseins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005518:Food Preferences; D006128:Growth; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002364:Caseins; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid