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Impact of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nematoda) on the serum albumin and amino acid concentrations of rats fed adequate or protein-deficient diets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

Caroline Ash
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Molteno Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EE
D. W. T. Crompton
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Molteno Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EE
P. G. Lunn
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council, Dunn Nutritional Laboratory, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ

Extract

Food intake, body weight changes, serum protein and amino acid concentrations were measured during the course of primary infections of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis in rats fed on either a 2% protein (casein) diet or a 16% protein diet (Oxoid 41 B). Total serum protein concentration declined from 77·84±5·35 mg/ml in uninfected well-nourished rats to 54±3·29 mg/ml in rats at 9 days post-infection (p.i.). A reduction from 47·80±2·78 to 40·38±5·62 mg/ml had occurred in protein-malnourished rats by day 6 p.i. The hypoproteinaemia was accompanied by significant hypoalbuminaemia in the protein-malnourished rats and concentrations fell from approximately 33 to 19 mg/ml at the time of peak infection. Six days after inoculation, a significant increase was detected in the concentration of serum amino acids in both well-nourished and protein-malnourished rats; the effect was more prolonged for non-essential than for essential amino acids. The results are discussed briefly in relation to recent work on the control of protein metabolism during malnutrition.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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