Hepatic protein synthesis and serum aminoacid levels during liver regeneration in young and old malnourished rats

The aim of the present study was to measure protein synthesis in regenerating liver and to evaluate the impact of malnutrition in young and old rats. Two groups of male Wistar rats were used: young rats (4 months old) and old rats (18 months old). The rats were: allocated to malnutrition or ordinary food intake for 1 week. Half of each group was sham-operated and the other was partially hepatectomized 2 days before the end of diet manipulation. Hepatic protein synthesis was significantly increased in all hepatectomized groups compared with their respective sham group: young well-nourished hepatectomized rats, 44%, young malnourished hepatectomized rats, 55%; old well-nourished hepatectomized rats, 47%; and old malnurished hepatectomized rats only 21%. Hepatic DNA content was unchanged in all groups and liver RNA content was higher in young malnourished hepatectomized rats (21%, P < 0.05). Serum total amino acid concentration did not change in young well-nourished hepatectomized and young malnourished hepatectomized rats. This value did not show significant changes between old well-nourished hepatectomized and old well-nourished sham, but it increased 14% (P < 0.05) in old malnourished hepatectomized. It was concluded that (a) regeneration is not impaired by malnutrition in young rats and may even be better than in rats eating a normal diet, and (b) the deleterious effect of aging is revealed once old animals are exposed to malnutrition. It is manifested in the decreased rate of hepatic protein synthesis observed in old malnourished hepatectomized rats and in the augmentation of total serum amino acid concentration, where the hypercatabolism induced by hepatectomy is significantly greater.