Effect of high- and low-protein diets on the regulation of rat liver tyrosine aminotransferase and tryptophan oxygenase activities by L-tyrosine and L-tryptophan

Expression of rat hepatic 2-amino-3-carboxymuconate-6-semialdehyde decarboxylase is affected by a high protein diet and by streptozotocin-induced diabetes

In the tryptophan-niacin conversion, 2-amino-3-carboxymuconate-6-semiardehyde decarboxylase (ACMSD; formerly termed picolinic carboxylase) is an important enzyme regulating the generation of quinolinate. In a series of experiments, we investigated alterations of ACMSD expression in rats by feeding a high protein diet and by inducing diabetes with streptozotocin (STZ). Male Sprague-Dawley rats (5-wk-old) were fed a diet containing 40% casein for 11 d, and hepatic ACMSD activity and mRNA expression were determined at intervals. The enzyme activity had increased at d 2, and it continued to increase through d 11. ACMSD mRNA expression had increased at d 1 and the elevated levels were maintained through d 11. Shifting from the 40% casein diet to a 20% casein diet restored hepatic ACMSD activity and mRNA expression to normal levels within 5 d and 2 d, respectively. In another series of experiments, male Wistar rats were injected with STZ (50 mg/kg) and the time-course (d 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 14) of the change in hepatic ACMSD activity and mRNA expression were examined. The activity increased dramatically after d 4, while mRNA expression was significantly elevated at d 2, followed by slight increases through d 14. Insulin administration (2 U/12 h) reduced the elevated ACMSD activity and fully suppressed the elevated ACMSD mRNA expression due to STZ injection. These results indicated that the fluctuation of hepatic ACMSD mRNA expression was followed by that of ACMSD activity.

Influence of overfeeding on growth, obesity and intestinal tract in young chicks of light and heavy breeds

1. Heavy-breed (HB) chicks differed from light-breed (LB) ones in their propensity to be overfed. Whereas in the LB chicks the amount by which they could be overfed reached 70% more than the food consumed daily by the ad lib.-fed chicks, in the HB chicks the maximal excess was only 13%. 2. Overfeeding caused a slight but statistically significant increase in the linear growth rate (shank length) of the LB chicks, with an opposite effect in the HB chicks. 3. Overfeeding increased the weight of the crop, proventriculus, small intestine, pancreas, liver and adipose tissue but had no such effect on the heart, cerebrum or cerebellum. 4. Overfeeding had no effect on the specific activities of the pancreatic digestive enzymes, liver xanthine dehydrogenase, or tryptophan oxygenase (EC 1.13.1.12). The increase in the total activities was due entirely to organ hypertrophy. 5. Obesity induced in young chicks had no residual effects on the adult LB chicks, but reduced the linear growth of the adult HB chicks. 6. An explanation for the difference between breeds in response to overfeeding at an early age is discussed.