Alteration of Hepatic Protein Synthesis in Acute Uremia

Abstract

Summary Incorporation of L-(U-¹⁴C)-leu-cine into protein was examined in vitro using cell-free preparations of liver from fasting acutely uremic, fasting normal, and non-fasting normal rats. The amount of incorporation was similar in the fasting and non-fasting normals. Incorporation by the acutely uremic liver preparations was significantly greater than by either control group. The measured hepatic leucine levels indicated that these findings cannot be ascribed to less dilution of label by endogenous free leucine. These results indicate that hepatic protein synthesis in rats is altered in uremia.