Basal metabolic rate and lipid and liver glycogen in mice infected by the nematode Nematospiroides dubius

Abstract

The basal metabolic rate ( BMR) of mice losing weight about two weeks after infection by Nematospiroides dubius was lower than that of uninfected mice gaining weight when fed ad libitum or losing weight on quantitatively reduced rations. There was no difference in BMR between the latter two groups. Following the injection of 14C-glucose, the high specific activity of expired CO 2 from infected and reduced ration mice was considered to be due to the utilization of energy reserves. The levels of lipid and liver glycogen were low in these two groups of mice and their specific activities, particularly in the severely affected animals, were high. It was concluded that the depressed BMR of infected mice is unrelated to anorexia, which did, however, explain the low levels of lipid and liver glycogen.