title: The effects of experimental malnutrition on albumin metabolism and distribution in rabbits.
abstract: In order to determine the extent to which the concentration of albumin in plasma is maintained at the expense of the extravascular pool during protein-energy malnutrition, the rates of exchange between albumin in plasma (IA) and the extravascular pool (EA) and consequently the distribution of albumin between intravascular and extravascular pools (expressed as EA:IA) were measured in protein-energy-depleted and control rabbits. The fractional rates of synthesis (FSR) and catabolism (FCR), the concentration of albumin and the plasma volume (PV) were also measured. In animals in which protein-energy intake was reduced by 58% the concentration of albumin in plasma remained unchanged, whereas FCR decreased by 38% and FSR by 30%. No significant changes in EA:IA or PV were found. We conclude that albumin concentration during protein-energy depletion is not maintained at the expense of extravascular albumin, but by parallel changes in the rates of catabolism and synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, Charing Cross and Westminister Medical School, London.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Weidel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fleck
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight; D008297:Male; D010953:Plasma Volume; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000097:blood*; D011817:Rabbits; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D014508:Urea; D001120:Arginine