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Whole-body protein turnover of a carnivore, Felis silvestris catus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

K. Russell ,
G. E. Lobley  and
D. J. Millward
K. Russell*
Affiliation:
Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, Melton Mowbray LE14 4RT, UK
G. E. Lobley
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK
D. J. Millward
Affiliation:
School of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 5XH, UK
*
*Corresponding Author: Miss Kim Russell, fax +44 1664 415 440, email [email protected]
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Abstract

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The cat (Felis silvestris catus) has a higher dietary protein requirement than omnivores and herbivores, thought to be due to metabolic inflexibility. An aspect of metabolic flexibility was examined with studies of whole-body protein turnover at two levels of dietary protein energy, moderate protein (MP; 20 %) and high protein (HP; 70 %), in five adult cats in a crossover design. Following a 14 d pre-feed period, a single intravenous dose of [15N]glycine was administered and cumulative excretion of the isotope in urine and faeces determined over 48 h. N flux increased (P<0·005) with dietary protein, being 56 (SE 5) MMOL /G BODY WEIGHT (BW) PER D FOR CATS FED THE MP DIET AND 146 (se 8) mmol /g BW per d for cats fed the HP diet. Protein synthesis was higher (P<0·05) on the HP diet (75 (se 10) mmol /g BW per d; 6·6 (se 1) g protei/g BW per d) than the MP diet (38 (se 5) mmol /g BW per d; 3·4 (se 0·4) g protei/g BW per d). Protein breakdown was higher (P<0·05) on the HP diet (72 (se 8) mmol /g BW per d; 6·3 (se 0·7) g protei/g BW per d) than the MP diet (44 (se 3) mmol /g BW per d; 3·9 (se 0·3) g protei/g BW per d). Compared with other species the rate of whole-body protein synthesis in the well-nourished cat (9·7 (se 1·3) g protei/g BW0·75 per d) is at the lower end of the range. These results show that feline protein turnover adapts to dietary protein as has been shown in other species and demonstrates metabolic flexibility. Further work is required to determine exactly why cats have such a high protein requirement.

Keywords

CatNitrogen[15N]glycine endproduct methodProtein metabolismProtein intake
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 89 , Issue 1 , January 2003 , pp. 29 - 37
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2003

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