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F H Faas

Publications and source records attributed to F H Faas.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effect of a protein-free diet on muscle protein turnover and nitrogen conservation in euthyroid and hyperthyroid rats.

Although protein turnover in skeletal muscle is increased in hyperthyroidism and decreased in hypothyroidism, a deficient protein intake tends to increase serum T3 (tri-iodothyronine) while decreasing muscle protein turnover. To determine whether this diet-induced decrease in protein turnover can occur independent of thyroid status, we have examined muscle protein turnover and nitrogen conservation in hyperthyroid rats fed on a protein-free diet. After inducing hyperthyroidism by giving 20 micrograms of T3/100g body wt. daily for 7 days, groups of euthyroid and hyperthyroid animals were divided into subgroups fed on basal and protein-free diets. Muscle protein turnover was measured by N tau-methylhistidine excretion and [14C]tyrosine infusion. Urinary nitrogen output of euthyroid and hyperthyroid animals fed on the protein-free diet was also measured. Although hyperthyroidism increased the baseline rates of muscle protein synthesis and degradation, it did not prevent a decrease in these values in response to protein depletion. Furthermore, hyperthyroid rats showed greatly decreased nitrogen excretion in response to the protein-free diet, although not to values for euthyroid rats. These findings suggest that protein depletion made the experimental animals less responsive to the protein-catabolic effects of T3.

Animals↗

Effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on phosphoglyceride metabolism of the rat liver.

We have studied the effect of streptozotocin (SZ)-induced diabetes on fatty acyltransferase and phospholipase enzyme activities involved in the synthesis and degradation of rat liver phosphoglycerides. Neither mitochondrial nor microsomal acyl-CoA:glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) activity was altered, although insulin treatment stimulated mitochondrial GPAT activity. However, microsomal acyl-CoA:1-acylglycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase (1-acyl-GPAT) activity increased (24-33 per cent, p less than 0.01) in the diabetic animals using 3 different acyl-CoA donors: palmitoyl-CoA, oleoyl-CoA and linoleoyl-CoA. SZ-induced diabetes also increased acyl-CoA;1-acylglycerol 3-phosphorylcholine acyltransferase (GPCAT) activity (38-45 per cent, p less than 0.01) with 3 different acyl-CoA donors: oleoyl-CoA, linoleoyl-CoA and arachidonoyl-CoA. 1-acyl-GPAT and GPCAT activity returned to normal with insulin treatment. In contrast to the increased activity of the microsomal fatty acyl-transferases 1-acyl-GPAT and GPCAT, SZ-induced diabetes decreased mitochondrial phospholipase A2 activity and lysophospholipase activity (49-70 per cent, p less than 0.01). Insulin treatment of the diabetic rats corrected the decreased lysophospholipase and stimulated phospholipase A2 activity 35 per cent higher than controls. Since microsomal 1-acyl-GPAT and GPCAT are known to have higher activity toward unsaturated fatty acyl-CoA donors, the increased GPCAT activity coupled with the decreased lysophospholipase activity and the increased 1-acyl-GPAT activity in diabetes would tend to increase the formation of newly synthesized phospholipids containing unsaturated fatty acids. This mechanism plus the decreased fatty acid desaturase (4) may be the factors which alter the fatty acid composition of phosphoglycerides in diabetic rat liver microsomes.

1-Acylglycerol-3-Phosphate O-Acyltransferase↗

Effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on microsomal long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase and hydrolase.

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes significantly decreased rat liver microsomal long-chain fatty acyl-CoA (LCA-CoA) hydrolase. The decrease was observed using either palmitoyl-CoA (35 per cent, p less than 0.01) or oleoyl-CoA (23 per cent, p less than 0.01) as the substrate for the enzyme. Under the same conditions, diabetes did not significantly alter activity of LCA-CoA synthetase. Daily subcutaneous injections of protamine zinc insulin (10-12 units/day) into the diabetic rats returned their blood glucose to normal but only partially corrected the LCA-CoA hydrolase activity and did not effect LCA-CoA synthetase activity. The decreased LCA-CoA hydrolase and the unchanged LCA-CoA synthetase activities in the diabetic rat liver were interpreted as factors that may contribute to elevation of fatty acyl-CoA levels in the diabetic liver.

Animals↗

Altered microsomal phospholipid composition in the streptozotocin diabetic rat.

Streptozotocin diabetes in the rat alters liver microsomal membrane fatty acid composition. The present study was undertaken to determine if such changes in fatty acid composition were due to changes in the amount of individual phosphoglycerides or to disproportionate changes in fatty acid composition in any of the individual phosphoglycerides. The diabetic animals showed a small increase in total microsomal phospholipid, which is due to a selective increase in the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction. The changes in fatty acid composition in the total lipid extract (decreased palmitoleic, oleic and arachidonic acids and increased linoleic and docosahexaenoic acids) from the diabetic animals were present in both the major phosphoglycerides, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, with very little change in fatty acid composition in the phosphatidylserine and inositol fraction. Further studies are necessary to delineate the cause of the abnormal membrane phospholipid composition in the diabetic animal.

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Fatty acid desaturation and microsomal lipid fatty acid composition in experimental hypothyroidism.

We have studied the influence of experimental hypothyroidism in the rat on the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and on liver microsomal lipid fatty acid composition. Hypothyroid rats demonstrated an 80% decrease in delta 9 (stearate) desaturation and a 43% decrease in delta 6 (linoleate) desaturation. Liver microsomal fatty acid composition was altered in the hypothyroid animals with a significantly decreased proportion of arachidonate and increased proportions of linoleate, eicosa-8,11,14-trienoate, eicosapentaenoate and docosahexaenoate. The bulk of these changes occurred in both of the two major phospholipid components, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. All of the changes were corrected by treatment of the hypothyroid rat with 25 micrograms of tri-iodothyronine/100 g body wt. twice daily. The diminished delta 9 desaturation did not lead to any changes in fatty acid composition. The increased linoleate and decreased arachidonate levels may be due to the diminished delta 6 desaturase activity, the rate-controlling step in the conversion of linoleate into arachidonate. The increases in the proportions of the other polyunsaturated fatty acid components cannot be explained by changes in the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, but are probably due to diminished utilization of these fatty acids.

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Effects of experimental hyperthyroidism on protein turnover in skeletal and cardiac muscle as measured by [14C]tyrosine infusion.

The effect of T3 (3,3',5-tri-iodothyronine) on protein turnover in skeletal and cardiac muscle was measured in intact rats by means of a 6 h [14C]tyrosine-infusion technique. Treatment with 25-30 micrograms of T3/100 g body wt. daily for 4-7 days increased the fractional rate of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle. Since the fractional growth rate of the muscle was decreased or unchanged, T3 treatment increased the rate of muscle protein breakdown. These findings suggest that increased protein degradation is an important factor in decreasing skeletal-muscle mass in hyperthyroidism. In contrast with skeletal muscle, T3 treatment for 7 days caused an equivalent increase in the rate of cardiac muscle growth and protein synthesis. This suggests that hyperthyroidism does not increase protein breakdown in heart muscle as it does in skeletal muscle. The failure of T3 to increase proteolysis in heart muscle may be due to a different action on the cardiac myocyte or to systemic effects of T3 which increase cardiac work.

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Effect of experimental hyperthyroidism on skeletal-muscle proteolysis.

It is not clear whether the muscle wasting commonly observed in hyperthyroidism is due to alteration in the rate of protein synthesis or degradation. The effect of experimental hyperthyroidism on skeletal-muscle proteolysis in the rat was studied by measuring alanine and tyrosine release from isolated skeletal muscles in vitro and 3-methyl-histidine excretion in vivo. Alanine release from the isolated epitrochlaris-muscle preparation was increased as soon as 24h after a 25 microgram dose of L-tri-iodothyronine in vivo. Conversely, alanine release from muscles of hypothyroid rats was decreased, but restored by L-tri-iodothyronine supplementation before death. Furthermore, 3-methylhistidine excretion was increased in hyperthyroid rats throughout an 18-day treatment period. The increased amino acid release from isolated muscles and the increased 3-methylhistidine excretion in vivo strongly suggests that hyperthyroidism increases skeletal-muscle proteolysis. Furthermore, the thyroid-hormone concentration may be an important factor in regulating muscle proteolysis.

Alanine↗

Fatty-acid desaturation and microsomal lipid fatty-acid composition in experimental hyperthyroidism.

We have studied the influence of experimental hyperthyroidism in the rat on the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and on liver microsomal lipid fatty-acid composition. Tri-iodothyronine treatment (25 micrograms/100 g body weight) daily for 3 weeks caused no significant changes in delta 9 (stearate) desaturation but a 24% decrease in delta 6 (linoleate) desaturation. Much larger doses of tri-iodothyronine increased delta 9 desaturation. Liver microsomal fatty-acid composition in hyperthyroidism is altered with significantly increased proportions of stearate and arachidonate and decreased proportions of palmitate, palmitoleate, linoleate (C18:2) and eicosa-8,11,14-trienoate (C20:3). These changes, other than the decreases proportion of C20:3 fatty acid, which may be due to the diminished delta 6 desaturase activity, cannot be attributed to changes in fatty-acid desaturation. Most of these changes were also found to be due not simply to the decreased weight gain or the increased food intake of the hyperthyroid animals. Only the decreased C18:2 fatty-acid proportions could be mimicked by restricting food intake of control animals and none of the changes were prevented by restricting food intake of hyperthyroid animals. Thus most of the changes in microsomal lipid fatty-acid composition are likely to be due to a thyroid hormone effect on peripheral lipid mobilization or lipid degradation.

Animals↗

Spontaneous diabetes mellitus in the New Zealand white rabbit: physiologic characteristics.

Spontaneous diabetes mellitus has been observed in a female New Zealand white rabbit. By inbreeding of this individual and her offspring, 39 litters comprising 157 animals have been studied and a closed colony of diabetic rabbits established. Three groups of animals can be identified. Twenty-nine (19%) have overt diabetes characterized by fasting hyperglycemia and depressed intravenous glucose stimulated serum insulin levels. This abnormality is seen between 1 and 3 yr of life. Forty-three of the animals (27%) have developed abnormal glucose disposal with normal or slight elevations in fasting serum glucose levels. Glucose stimulated insulin levels are also significantly lower in the rabbits with abnormal glucose disposal. The remaining 85 animals (54%) exhibit no apparent abnormalities of glucose metabolism. All animals with overt diabetes pass through a stage in which glucose disposal as measured by k values is less than 1.0, a value not observed in normal animals. Fasting and arginine stimulated glucagon levels were no different in 4 diabetic animals and 7 normal colony rabbits. Insulin therapy corrected the hyperglycemia in the diabetic rabbits. Insulin was withheld in 5 diabetic rabbits and serum and urinary glucose and ketones were measured for 9 days. Despite marked increases in serum and urinary glucose, only mild ketonemia was observed. The relatively late onset of diabetic symptoms, lack of obesity, severe hyperglycemia, and depressed insulin secretion without ketoacidosis make this a model with many of the characteristics of insulin responsive diabetes as seen in nonobese human adults.

Acetoacetates↗

Mechanism of creatinuria in experimental hyperthyroidism.

Using rats pre-labelled by [14C]creatine injection, the mechanism of creatinuria induced by experimental hyperthyroidism during a 20 day treatment period has been examined. The excess creatine excretion is the result of increased release of creatine from muscle and increased excretion of creatine synthesized de novo. The increased excretion of newly synthesized creatine in hyperthyroidism appears to occur because of decreased creatine uptake by muscle, an increased rate of creatine synthesis, or a combination of both factors. The radioactive creatine content of hyperthyroid skeletal muscle was reduced at the time of death indicating an increased rated of creatine loss during the treatment period. In spite of the increased loss of labelled creatine, the specific activity of creatine obtained from hyperthyroid skeletal muscle was higher than control. This finding is probably due to decreased uptake of unlabelled creatine by hyperthyroid skeletal muscle during the treatment period. In contrast to skeletal muscle, the radioactive creatine content of hyperthyroid myocardium was higher than control at the time of death suggesting a decreased rate of creatine loss during the treatment period.

Animals↗

Effect of experimental hyperthyroidism on protein turnover in skeletal and cardiac muscle.

Since experimental hyperthyroidism reduces skeletal muscle mass while simultaneously increasing cardiac muscle mass, the effect of hyperthyroidism on muscle protein degradation was compared in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Pulse-labeling studies using (3H) leucine and (14C) carboxyl labeled aspartate and glutamate were carried out. Hyperthyroidism caused a 25%-29% increase in protein breakdown in both sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar fractions of skeletal muscle. Increased muscle protein degradation may be a major factor in the development of skeletal muscle wasting and weakness in hyperthyroidism. In contrast, protein breakdown appeared to be reduced 22% in the sarcoplasmic fraction of hyperthyroid heart muscle and was unchanged in the myofibrillar fraction. Possible reasons for the contrasting effects of hyperthyroidism on skeletal and cardiac muscle include increased sensitivity of the hyperthyroid heart to catecholamines, increased cardiac work caused by the hemodynamic effects of hyperthyroidism, and a different direct effect of thyroid hormone at the nuclear level in cardiac as opposed to skeletal muscle.

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Early stimulation of rat liver microsomal protein synthesis after tri-iodothyronine injection in vivo.

In an effort to determine the physiological significance of previous studies showing stimulation of microsomal protein synthesis by thyroxine added in vitro, an early effect of tri-iodothyronine injected in vivo was sought. Tri-iodothyronine (25 micrograms/100 g) administered to euthyroid rats stimulated microsomal protein synthesis in vitro within 3--6 h. This effect occurred much earlier than the 26 h lag previously reported after tri-iodothyronine administration to hypothyroid rats. This early effect of tri-iodothyronine on protein synthesis is prevented by alpha-amanitin, suggesting that it is dependent on RNA synthesis. The failure to find a direct effect in vivo of tri-iodothyronine on translation casts doubt on the physiological significance of previous studies that have shown a direct stimulation of translation by thyroxine added in vitro.

Amanitins↗

Fatty acid desaturation in experimental diabetes mellitus.

Microsomal fatty acid desaturation is defective in streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes. This defect is correctable by insulin treatment. The electron transport chain needed for microsomal fatty acid desaturation was studied in liver microsomes of streptozotocin diabetic rats, and the defect was localized to the terminal desaturase enzyme. Cytochrome b5 levels were elevated in the face of decreased fatty acid desaturation and returned to normal after 48 h of insulin treatment; 2 U of regular insulin every 6 h for 24 h repaired the fatty acid desaturation defect, while 0.5 U failed to correct the defect. Both the delta 6 and delta 9 desaturase defects (linoleic acid and stearoyl-CoA desaturation) required similar amounts of insulin and periods of time for correction, although these are different enzymes. This is consistent with the desaturation defect being due to a protein synthetic effect. Diabetic rats treated twice daily with injections of 4 U of NPH insulin showed a "super" repair of their desaturase defect by 48 h: delta 9 desaturase activity increased eight times over control activity, while delta 6 desaturase activity increased two and one-half times over control activity. This, together with the fact that delta 6 desaturase activity in diabetes (64% of control) is altered less than is delta 9 desaturase activity (22% of control), indicates that delta 6 desaturase enzyme activity is less responsive to insulin than is delta 9 desaturase enzyme activity. The physiologic significance of altered fatty acid desaturation in diabetes mellitus is unknown.

Animals↗