Albumin-synthesizing capacity of hepatocytes isolated from rats fed diets differing in protein and energy content

The rate of albumin synthesis has been estimated in hepatocytes prepared from groups of rats maintained on diets of different protein content. These diets were fed either ad libitum or at 50% restriction of ad libitum consumption. The data show that the physiological capacity of hepatocytes to synthesize albumin varies with dietary intake. Albumin production by cells prepared from animals fed ad libitum was directly related to the protein energy:total energy ratio of the food. Restricting consumption of the control diet to 50% of ad libitum intake did not reduce albumin synthesis rates, and similar restriction of the low protein diets ameliorated some of the depression in albumin production observed in hepatocytes isolated from animals fed the same diets ad libitum. The results are discussed with reference to the occurrence of hypoalbuminaemia in children with protein-energy malnutrition.