Tissue protein synthesis in lambs infected with &lt;i&gt;Trichostrongylus colubriformis&lt;/i&gt;

E Bermingham,L Sutherland,N Roy,W Mcnabb,B Treloar

doi:10.22358/jafs/74046/2004

Abstract

Fractional protein synthesis rates (FSR) were determined in lambs fed fresh sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) during an established Trichostrongylus colubriformis infection. Forty-eight days after infection, the FSR in the duodenum, ileum, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, liver, thymus, muscle and skin was determined. Parasite infection increased the FSR in the smooth muscle of the duodenum and ileum and in the mesenteric lymph nodes. This suggests an increase in amino acid requirement for the synthesis of constitutive proteins in these tissues. However, an established parasite infection did not result in the diversion of amino acids from muscle to the small intestine nor the liver.

Highlights

The effects of parasitic infection on the fractional protein synthesis rates (FSR; % d-1) of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), liver and muscle proteins have been documented in sheep (Jones and Symons, 1982)
The FSR in the smooth muscle of the duodenum and ileum and in the mesenteric lymph nodes was increased in the infected lambs (Table 1), whole intestinal tissues were not affected
Reduced muscle protein synthesis in parasitized animals is often accompanied by an increase in protein degradation (Jones and Symons, 1982) and most likely, more amino acids (AA) are released from the skeletal muscle

Summary

Introduction

The effects of parasitic infection on the fractional protein synthesis rates (FSR; % d-1) of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), liver and muscle proteins have been documented in sheep (Jones and Symons, 1982). The hypothesis of this study was that the presence of an established intestinal parasitic infection would increase the FSR in the small intestine and liver and that the increased AA requirement would be provided by increased mobilization. PARASITE INFECTION AND TISSUE PROTEIN SYNTHESIS of skeletal muscle proteins. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of an established parasitic infection on FSR in the duodenum and ileum, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, liver, thymus, muscle and skin of growing lambs

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Conclusion