scholarly journals Citrulline modulates muscle protein metabolism in old malnourished rats

2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (3) ◽  
pp. E582-E586 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Osowska ◽  
T. Duchemann ◽  
S. Walrand ◽  
A. Paillard ◽  
Y. Boirie ◽  
...  

Protein energy malnutrition is common in the elderly, especially in hospitalized patients. The development of strategies designed to correct such malnutrition is essential. Our working hypothesis was that poor response to nutrition with advancing age might be related to splanchnic sequestration of amino acids, which implies that fewer amino acids reach the systemic circulation. Administration of citrulline, which is not taken up by the liver, can offer a means of increasing whole body nitrogen availability and, hence, improve nutritional status. Thirty old (19 mo) rats were submitted to dietary restriction (50% of food intake) for 12 wk. They were randomized into three groups: 10 rats (R group) were killed and 20 others refed (90% of food intake) for 1 wk with a standard diet (NEAA group) or a citrulline-supplemented diet (Cit group). Before being killed, the rats were injected with [13C]valine, and the absolute protein synthesis rate (ASR) was measured in the tibialis using the flooding-dose method. When the rats were killed, the tibialis was removed for protein content analysis. Blood was sampled for amino acid and insulin analysis. The standard diet did not have any effect on protein synthesis or on the protein content in the muscle. Citrulline supplementation led to higher protein synthesis and protein content in muscle (117 ± 9, 120 ± 14, and 163 ± 4 mg/organ for protein content in R, NEAA, and Cit groups, P < 0.05). The ASR were 0.30 ± 0.04, 0.31 ± 0.04, and 0.56 ± 0.10 mg/h in the three groups, respectively (R and NEAA vs. Cit, P < 0.05). Insulinemia was significantly higher in the Cit group. For the first time, a realistic therapeutic approach is proposed to improve muscle protein content in muscle in frail state related to malnutrition in aging.

2014 ◽  
Vol 306 (11) ◽  
pp. E1330-E1339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Holm ◽  
Søren Reitelseder ◽  
Kasper Dideriksen ◽  
Rie H. Nielsen ◽  
Jacob Bülow ◽  
...  

Muscle protein synthesis (MPS) rate is determined conventionally by obtaining two or more tissue biopsies during a primed, continuous infusion of a stable isotopically labeled amino acid. The purpose of the present study was to test whether tracer priming given as a flooding dose, thereby securing an instantaneous labeling of the tissue pools of free tracee amino acids, followed by a continuous infusion of the same tracer to maintain tracer isotopic steady state, could be used to determine the MPS rate over a prolonged period of time by obtaining only a single tissue biopsy. We showed that the tracer from the flood prime appeared immediately in the muscle free pool of amino acids and that this abundance could be kept constant by a subsequent continuous infusion of the tracer. When using phenylalanine as tracer, the flood-primed, continuous infusion protocol does not stimulate the MPS rate per se. In conclusion, the flood-primed, continuous infusion protocol using phenylalanine as tracer can validly be used to measure the protein synthesis rate in human in vivo experiments by obtaining only a single tissue biopsy after a prolonged infusion period.


1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (4) ◽  
pp. E577-E583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin E. Yarasheski ◽  
Jeffrey J. Zachwieja ◽  
Jennifer Gischler ◽  
Jan Crowley ◽  
Mary M. Horgan ◽  
...  

Muscle protein wasting occurs in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals and is often the initial indication of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Little is known about the alterations in muscle protein metabolism that occur with HIV infection. Nine subjects with AIDS wasting (CD4 < 200/mm3), chronic stable opportunistic infections (OI), and ≥10% weight loss, fourteen HIV-infected men and one woman (CD4 > 200/mm3) without wasting or OI (asymptomatic), and six HIV-seronegative lean men (control) received a constant intravenous infusion of [1-13C]leucine (Leu) and [2-15N]glutamine (Gln). Plasma Leu and Gln rate of appearance (Ra), whole body Leu turnover, disposal and oxidation rates, and [13C]Leu incorporation rate into mixed muscle protein were assessed. Total body muscle mass/fat-free mass was greater in controls (53%) than in AIDS wasting (43%; P = 0.04). Fasting whole body proteolysis and synthesis rates were increased above control in the HIV+ asymptomatic group and in the AIDS-wasting group ( P = 0.009). Whole body Leu oxidation rate was greater in the HIV+ asymptomatic group than in the control and AIDS-wasting groups ( P < 0.05). Fasting mixed muscle protein synthesis rate was increased in the asymptomatic subjects (0.048%/h; P = 0.01) but was similar in AIDS-wasting and control subjects (0.035 vs. 0.037%/h). Plasma Gln Rawas increased in AIDS-wasting subjects but was similar in control and HIV+ asymptomatic subjects ( P < 0.001). These findings suggest that AIDS wasting results from 1) a preferential reduction in muscle protein, 2) a failure to sustain an elevated rate of mixed muscle protein synthesis while whole body protein synthesis is increased, and 3) a significant increase in Gln release into the circulation, probably from muscle. Several interesting explanations for the increased Gln Rain AIDS wasting exist.


1992 ◽  
Vol 262 (3) ◽  
pp. E261-E267 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. E. Yarasheski ◽  
J. A. Campbell ◽  
K. Smith ◽  
M. J. Rennie ◽  
J. O. Holloszy ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to determine whether growth hormone (GH) administration enhances the muscle anabolism associated with heavy-resistance exercise. Sixteen men (21-34 yr) were assigned randomly to a resistance training plus GH group (n = 7) or to a resistance training plus placebo group (n = 9). For 12 wk, both groups trained all major muscle groups in an identical fashion while receiving 40 micrograms recombinant human GH.kg-1.day-1 or placebo. Fat-free mass (FFM) and total body water increased (P less than 0.05) in both groups but more (P less than 0.01) in the GH recipients. Whole body protein synthesis rate increased more (P less than 0.03), and whole body protein balance was greater (P = 0.01) in the GH-treated group, but quadriceps muscle protein synthesis rate, torso and limb circumferences, and muscle strength did not increase more in the GH-treated group. In the young men studied, resistance exercise with or without GH resulted in similar increments in muscle size, strength, and muscle protein synthesis, indicating that 1) the larger increase in FFM with GH treatment was probably due to an increase in lean tissue other than skeletal muscle and 2) resistance training supplemented with GH did not further enhance muscle anabolism and function.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2637
Author(s):  
Prasanthi Jegatheesan ◽  
David Ramani ◽  
Mickael Lhuillier ◽  
Naouel El-Hafaia ◽  
Radji Ramassamy ◽  
...  

N-carbamoyl putrescine (NCP), the decarboxylation derivative of citrulline, metabolically related to polyamines, may exert biological effects in mammals. The aim of this study was (i) to evaluate the nutritional properties of NCP in healthy rats and (ii) to determine the effect of NCP administration on muscle metabolism in malnourished old rats. The nutritional properties of NCP were first evaluated in 20 8-week-old male rats randomized to receive for two weeks a standard diet either alone (C group) or supplemented with NCP, 5 or 50 mg/kg/d. In a second study, 29 malnourished 18-month-old male rats were studied either before or after a 4-day refeeding with a standard diet either alone (REN group) or supplemented with NCP, 1 or 10 mg/kg/d. NCP had no effect on weight gain and body composition in either of the two studies. In healthy rats, muscle protein content was significantly increased in the soleus with NCP 5 mg/kg/d. A decrease in plasma glutamine and kidney spermine was observed at the 50 mg/kg/d dose; otherwise, no significant changes in plasma chemistry and tissue polyamines were observed. In malnutrition-induced sarcopenic old rats, refeeding with NCP 10 mg/kg/d was associated with higher tibialis weight and a trend for increased protein content in extensor digitorum longus (EDL). While the muscle protein synthesis rate was similar between groups, ribosomal protein S6 kinase was increased in tibialis and higher in the EDL in NCP-treated rats. The muscle RING-finger protein-1 expression was decreased in tibialis and urinary 3-methyl-histidine to creatinine ratio slightly lower with the supply of NCP. However, this initial period of refeeding was also associated with elevated fasted plasma triglycerides and glucose, significant in NCP groups, suggesting glucose intolerance and possibly insulin resistance. NCP was well-tolerated in healthy young-adults and in malnourished old rats. In healthy adults, NCP at 5 mg/kg/d induced a significant increase in protein content in the soleus, a type I fiber-rich muscle. In malnourished old rats, NCP supply during refeeding, may help to preserve lean mass by limiting protein breakdown; however, these effects may be limited in our model by a possible immediate refeeding-associated glucose intolerance.


1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (5) ◽  
pp. E898-E902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Odile Mansoor ◽  
Marc Cayol ◽  
Pierre Gachon ◽  
Yves Boirie ◽  
Pierre Schoeffler ◽  
...  

The effect of trauma on protein metabolism was investigated in the whole body, muscle, and liver in severely head-injured patients presenting an acute inflammatory response by comparison to fed control subjects receiving a similar diet. Nonoxidative leucine disposal (an index of whole body protein synthesis) and muscle, albumin, and fibrinogen synthesis were determined by means of a primed, continuous infusion ofl-[1-13C]leucine. Nonoxidative leucine disposal increased by 28% in the patients ( P < 0.02). Fractional muscle protein synthesis rate decreased by 50% ( P < 0.01) after injury. Fractional and absolute fribrinogen synthesis rates were multiplied by two and nine, respectively, after injury ( P< 0.001). Albumin levels were lower in patients (25.2 ± 1.2 g/l, means ± SE) than in controls (33.7 ± 1.2 g/l, P < 0.001). However, fractional albumin synthesis rates were increased by 60% in patients (11.4 ± 1.0%/day) compared with controls (7.3 ± 0.4%/day, P < 0.01). Therefore, 1) head trauma induces opposite and large changes of protein synthesis in muscle and acute-phase hepatic proteins, probably mediated by cytokines, glucocorticoids, and other stress hormones, and 2) in these patients, hypoalbuminemia is not due to a depressed albumin synthesis.


1989 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 498-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Griggs ◽  
W. Kingston ◽  
R. F. Jozefowicz ◽  
B. E. Herr ◽  
G. Forbes ◽  
...  

We have studied the effect of a pharmacological dose of testosterone enanthate (3 mg.kg-1.wk-1 for 12 wk) on muscle mass and total-body potassium and on whole-body and muscle protein synthesis in normal male subjects. Muscle mass estimated by creatinine excretion increased in all nine subjects (20% mean increase, P less than 0.02); total body potassium mass estimated by 40K counting increased in all subjects (12% mean increase, P less than 0.0001). In four subjects, a primed continuous infusion protocol with L-[1–13C]leucine was used to determine whole-body leucine flux and oxidation. Whole-body protein synthesis was estimated from nonoxidative flux. Muscle protein synthesis rate was determined by measuring [13C]leucine incorporation into muscle samples obtained by needle biopsy. Testosterone increased muscle protein synthesis in all subjects (27% mean increase, P less than 0.05). Leucine oxidation decreased slightly (17% mean decrease, P less than 0.01), but whole-body protein synthesis did not change significantly. Muscle morphometry showed no significant increase in muscle fiber diameter. These studies suggest that testosterone increases muscle mass by increasing muscle protein synthesis.


1980 ◽  
Vol 239 (4) ◽  
pp. E294-E294 ◽  

[15N]glycine (95+%) was infused into 170- to 220-g rats at a constant rate of 2-8 mg [15N]glycine/h for 2-24 h. Two sets of experiments were done. In one set, the rats were killed at varying time intervals, the liver was removed, and the fractional rate of liver protein synthesis was estimated from the amount of 15N incorporated into liver protein, the enrichment of the liver tissue free amino nitrogen, and the time course. In the second set of experiments, the rats were killed after a [15N]glycine infusion of 18-22 h. The whole-body protein synthesis rate was estimated from the urinary 15N enrichment at plateau by the method of Picou and Taylor-Roberts (Clin. Sci. 36: 288-296, 1967). It was compared against the value found by measuring the 15N enrichment of the whole-rat homogenate and calculating the synthesis rate from the formula of Garlick et al. [Biochem. J. 136: 935-945, 1973). The results are i) The 15N enrichment of glycine in either liver protein or liver tissue free amino acids was proportional to the 15N enrichment of the mixed protein or tissue free amino acids, respectively. ii) Continuous infusion-isotopic plateau methods underestimate the fractional protein synthesis rate of rat liver. iii) The methods of Picou and Taylor-Roberts and of Garlick et al. gave similar values for the whole-body protein synthesis rate.


2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (4) ◽  
pp. E671-E677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Everman ◽  
Christian Meyer ◽  
Lee Tran ◽  
Nyssa Hoffman ◽  
Chad C. Carroll ◽  
...  

Insulin stimulates muscle protein synthesis when the levels of total amino acids, or at least the essential amino acids, are at or above their postabsorptive concentrations. Among the essential amino acids, branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) have the primary role in stimulating muscle protein synthesis and are commonly sought alone to stimulate muscle protein synthesis in humans. Fourteen healthy young subjects were studied before and after insulin infusion to examine whether insulin stimulates muscle protein synthesis in relation to the availability of BCAA alone. One half of the subjects were studied in the presence of postabsorptive BCAA concentrations (control) and the other half in the presence of increased plasma BCAA (BCAA). Compared with that prior to the initiation of the insulin infusion, fractional synthesis rate of muscle protein (%/h) did not change ( P > 0.05) during insulin in either the control (0.04 ± 0.01 vs 0.05 ± 0.01) or the BCAA (0.05 ± 0.02 vs. 0.05 ± 0.01) experiments. Insulin decreased ( P < 0.01) whole body phenylalanine rate of appearance (μmol·kg−1·min−1), indicating suppression of muscle proteolysis, in both the control (1.02 ± 0.04 vs 0.76 ± 0.04) and the BCAA (0.89 ± 0.07 vs 0.61 ± 0.03) experiments, but the change was not different between the two experiments ( P > 0.05). In conclusion, insulin does not stimulate muscle protein synthesis in the presence of increased circulating levels of plasma BCAA alone. Insulin's suppressive effect on proteolysis is observed independently of the levels of circulating plasma BCAA.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (5) ◽  
pp. E1416-E1425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renán A. Orellana ◽  
Asumthia Jeyapalan ◽  
Jeffery Escobar ◽  
Jason W. Frank ◽  
Hanh V. Nguyen ◽  
...  

In skeletal muscle of adults, sepsis reduces protein synthesis by depressing translation initiation and induces resistance to branched-chain amino acid stimulation. Normal neonates maintain a high basal muscle protein synthesis rate that is sensitive to amino acid stimulation. In the present study, we determined the effect of amino acids on protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and other tissues in septic neonates. Overnight-fasted neonatal pigs were infused with endotoxin (LPS, 0 and 10 μg·kg−1·h−1), whereas glucose and insulin were maintained at fasting levels; amino acids were clamped at fasting or fed levels. In the presence of fasting insulin and amino acids, LPS reduced protein synthesis in longissimus dorsi (LD) and gastrocnemius muscles and increased protein synthesis in the diaphragm, but had no effect in masseter and heart muscles. Increasing amino acids to fed levels accelerated muscle protein synthesis in LD, gastrocnemius, masseter, and diaphragm. LPS stimulated protein synthesis in liver, lung, spleen, pancreas, and kidney in fasted animals. Raising amino acids to fed levels increased protein synthesis in liver of controls, but not LPS-treated animals. The increase in muscle protein synthesis in response to amino acids was associated with increased mTOR, 4E-BP1, and S6K1 phosphorylation and eIF4G-eIF4E association in control and LPS-infused animals. These findings suggest that amino acids stimulate skeletal muscle protein synthesis during acute endotoxemia via mTOR-dependent ribosomal assembly despite reduced basal protein synthesis rates in neonatal pigs. However, provision of amino acids does not further enhance the LPS-induced increase in liver protein synthesis.


2003 ◽  
Vol 285 (1) ◽  
pp. E40-E53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela M. J. O'Connor ◽  
Scot R. Kimball ◽  
Agus Suryawan ◽  
Jill A. Bush ◽  
Hanh V. Nguyen ◽  
...  

Previous studies have shown that intravenous infusion of insulin and/or amino acids reproduces the feeding-induced stimulation of muscle protein synthesis in neonates and that insulin and amino acids act independently to produce this effect. The goal of the present study was to delineate the regulatory roles of insulin and amino acids on muscle protein synthesis in neonates by examining translational control mechanisms, specifically the eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs), which enable coupling of initiator methionyl-tRNAi and mRNA to the 40S ribosomal subunit. Insulin secretion was blocked by somatostatin in fasted 7-day-old pigs ( n = 8–12/group), insulin was infused to achieve plasma levels of ∼0, 2, 6, and 30 μU/ml, and amino acids were clamped at fasting or fed levels or, at the high insulin dose, below fasting. Both insulin and amino acids increased the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K1) and the eIF4E-binding protein (4E-BP1), decreased the binding of 4E-BP1 to eIF4E, increased eIF4E binding to eIF4G, and increased fractional protein synthesis rates but did not affect eIF2B activity. In the absence of insulin, amino acids had no effect on these translation initiation factors but increased the protein synthesis rates. Raising insulin from below fasting to fasting levels generally did not alter translation initiation factor activity but raised protein synthesis rates. The phosphorylation of S6K1 and 4E-BP1 and the amount of 4E-BP1 bound to eIF4E and eIF4E bound to eIF4G were correlated with insulin level, amino acid level, and protein synthesis rate. Thus insulin and amino acids regulate muscle protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of neonates by modulating the availability of eIF4E for 48S ribosomal complex assembly, although other processes also must be involved.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document