title: Leucine supplementation has an anabolic effect on proteins in rabbit skin wound and muscle.
abstract: We investigated the effect of leucine supplementation on protein metabolism in skin wounds and muscle in anesthetized rabbits. l-[ring-(13)C(6)]phenylalanine was infused on d 7 after the ear was scalded, and the scalded ear and uninjured hindlimb were used as arteriovenous units to reflect protein kinetics in skin wounds and muscle. In comparison with a commercially available amino acid solution (10% Travasol), isonitrogenous [1638 micromol/(kg . h)] infusion of the amino acid solution with supplemental leucine to account for 35% of total nitrogen increased the net phenylalanine balance (P < 0.05) in the skin wound and muscle from -6.7 +/- 6.1 to 0.9 +/- 1.4 and from -4.4 +/- 2.4 to -1.0 +/- 0.4 micromol/(100 g . h), respectively. Infusion of leucine alone did not significantly improve the net phenylalanine balance in either skin wounds [-4.0 +/- 4.6 micromol/(100 g . h)] or muscle [-2.7 +/- 0.7 micromol/(100 g . h)]. We conclude that leucine supplementation had an anabolic effect on proteins in skin wounds and muscle, provided that adequate additional amino acids were also available.
authors.affiliation: Metabolism Unit, Shriners Hospital for Children, Galveston, TX 77550, USA.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Chinkes
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Wolfe
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D007930:Leucine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D007930:Leucine