title: The effect of severe dietary restriction on intramuscular glutamine concentrations and protein synthetic rate.
abstract: An investigation was carried out to examine the relationship between fractional muscle protein synthetic rate (FSR) and intramuscular glutamine concentration ({GLN}(i)) in rats that had a dietary intake which was deficient in both protein and energy. Young male rats (38 days old) were fed for 48 h on either 1) 25% of the ad lib intake of a 20% protein diet, or 2) glucose alone, sufficient to provide the same energy intake as in 1). In a separate study, 33 day old rats were starved completely for 48 h. Appropriate controls were included in both studies. Muscle FSR, which was reduced by 40% in both groups of energy restricted rats (P<0.001), was associated with a small increase in {GLN}(i) (P<0.05). Starvation produced a 60% reduction in FSR (P<0.01) and a 45% (P<0.05) reduction in {GLN}(i). It is concluded that reductions in muscle protein synthesis can occur by mechanisms independent of intramuscular glutamine concentration.
authors.affiliation: MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit, Downham's Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wusteman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elia