Relationships among dietary protein, feed intake and tissue protein turnover in lactating rats

Effects of protein and energy intake on tissue protein synthesis and degradation were studied in rats fed 12, 24 and 36% protein diets at 100, 70, 50 and 30% of ad libitum intake begining on d 7 of lactation. Rates of protein synthesis were measured in liver, mammary, abdominal viscera and remaining carcass of rats on d 10 of lactation. Tissue protein loss was estimated as the difference in tissue protein from d 7 to 14. Data were analyzed using stepwise multiple quadratic regression to define response surfaces of protein loss, synthesis and degradation to intake of protein and energy. Protein loss increased with restriction of energy and protein intake in all tissues. However, carcass protein synthesis and degradation did not vary systematically with either energy or protein intake. Energy intake restriction increased visceral protein turnover while protein intake restriction decreased rate of protein turnover. Liver protein loss increased with decreased dietary protein due to increased liver protein degradation. Decreased energy intake also increased liver protein loss without directly affecting rate of synthesis or degradation. Mammary protein synthesis decreased very slightly with energy restriction while decreased protein intake sharply inhibited protein synthesis.