[Effect of accelerations, hypergravity and hypokinesia on protein metabolism in Japanese quail. I. Effect on muscle...

The effect of hypokinesia, hypergravity achieved by centrifugation and additional weight load on the content and composition of proteins and nucleic acids in the chest and pelvic muscles of four groups of quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) was studied. The first group was used as controls, the second included hypokinetic birds, the third was made of birds with an additional weight load (the load was a double weight of the animal) and the fourth group included birds exposed to acceleration of 3 g. The birds were exposed to the above effects for 1 to 6 hours during 8 days. They were given identical food through forced feeding. The content of total proteins, sarcoplasmatic proteins, DNA and RNA, cholesterol and esterified fatty acids was measured in chest and pelvic muscles. The composition of total lipids was examined in pelvic muscles. The level of corticosterone was determined in the blood plasma. The above experimental variants made it possible to discriminate individual contributions of acceleration, additional weight load and hypo-inesia to the effect. Weight load and acceleration decreased and hypokinesia increased the content of total proteins in the pelvic muscles. During an exposure to acceleration and hypokinesia the content and the portion of sarcoplasmatic proteins decreased and during an exposure to weight load increased significantly. Acceleration did not exert a significant effect on the RNA and DNA content in muscles. The content of esterified fatty acids increased under the influence of acceleration and hypokinesia and decreased significantly under the influence of additional weight.