Distribution of 14C- l-leucine in organs and tissues of guinea pigs infected with tRichostrongylus colubriformis

Abstract

Earlier experiments with intestinal nematode infection which had shown changes to skeletal muscle and liver protein metabolism, did not examine the metabolism of the gastrointestinal tract nor attempt to integrate these changes with the whole body. Consequently the distribution of 14C- l-leucine in all organs and tissues of guinea pigs infected with Trichostrongylus colubriformis was compared with uninfected animals fed either ad libitum or quantitatively reduced rations. There were no differences between experimental groups in total radioactivities recovered, but in the infected animals radioactivity accumulated in the liver, stomach and small intestine, and caecum and large intestine at the expense of the eviscerated carcase and skin. Reducing the ration of uninfected guinea pigs did not affect the distribution of leucine, apart from reducing the fraction in the eviscerated carcase. Incorporation of 14C- l-leucine and its relationship to protein synthesis in the livers and eviscerated carcases of the three experimental groups is discussed. It was concluded that events in the small and large intestines, which are independent of anorexia, are important components of protein metabolism in intestinal nematode infection.