Insulin stimulates phenylalanine uptake across the hind limb in fed lambs

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 162-162
Author(s):  
T.J Wester ◽  
G.E. Lobley ◽  
L.M. Birnie ◽  
M.A. Lomax

Although insulin has been shown to stimulate muscle protein accretion in nonruminants (e.g., Wray-Cahen et al., 1998) evidence for this same effect in ruminants has been equivocal (e.g., Oddy et al., 1987; Wolff et al., 1989). Moreover, when insulin has been reported to have an anabolic effect in ruminants, the animal has been in the fasted state. In addition, Garlick and Grant (1988) have shown that branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) enhanced insulin-stimulated protein synthesis in fasted rats. The primary aim of the present study was to ascertain whether insulin increases phenylalanine (Phe) uptake (used as an index of skeletal muscle protein anabolism) across the hind limb of fed lambs. A secondary aim was to determine if infusion of BCAA, alone or in combination with insulin, would stimulate Phe uptake greater than insulin alone.

2004 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Wester ◽  
G. E. Lobley ◽  
L. M. Birnie ◽  
L. A. Crompton ◽  
S. Brown ◽  
...  

The increase in fractional rate of protein synthesis (Ks) in the skeletal muscle of growing rats during the transition from fasted to fed state has been explained by the synergistic action of a rise in plasma insulin and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). Since growing lambs also exhibit an increase inKswith level of feed intake, the objective of the present study was to determine if this synergistic relationship between insulin and BCAA also occurs in ruminant animals. Six 30 kg fasted (72 h) lambs (8 months of age) received each of four treatments, which were based on continuous infusion into the jugular vein for 6 h of: (1) saline (155 mmol NaCl/l); (2) a mixture of BCAA (0·778 μmol leucine, 0·640 μmol isoleucine and 0·693 μmol valine/min·kg); (3) 18·7 μmol glucose/min·kg (to induce endogenous insulin secretion); (4) co-infusion of BCAA and glucose. Within each period all animals received the same isotope of phenylalanine (Phe) as follows: (1) l-[1-13C]Phe; (2) l-phenyl-[ring2H5]-alanine; (3) l-[15N]Phe; (4) l-[ring 2,6-3H]Phe. Blood was sampled serially during infusions to measure plasma concentrations of insulin, glucose and amino acids, and plasma free Phe isotopic activity; biopsies were taken 6 h after the beginning of infusions to determineKsinm. longissimus dorsiandvastusmuscle. Compared with control (saline-infused) lambs,Kswas increased by an average of 40 % at the end of glucose infusion, but this effect was not statistically significant in either of the muscles sampled. BCAA infusion, alone or in combination with glucose, also had no significant effect onKscompared with control sheep.Kswas approximately 60 % greater forvastusmuscle than form. longissimus dorsi(P>0·01), regardless of treatment. It is concluded that there are signals other than insulin and BCAA that are responsible for the feed-induced increase inKsin muscle of growing ruminant animals.


2004 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas C. Vary ◽  
Christopher J. Lynch

Sepsis initiates a unique series of modifications in the homeostasis of N metabolism and profoundly alters the integration of inter-organ cooperatively in the overall N and energy economy of the host. The net effect of these alterations is an overall N catabolic state, which seriously compromises recovery and is semi-refractory to treatment with current therapies. These alterations lead to a functional redistribution of N (amino acids and proteins) and substrate metabolism among injured tissues and major body organs. The redistribution of amino acids and proteins results in a quantitative reordering of the usual pathways of C and N flow within and among regions of the body with a resultant depletion of the required substrates and cofactors in important organs. The metabolic response to sepsis is a highly integrated, complex series of reactions. To understand the regulation of the response to sepsis, a comprehensive, integrated analysis of the fundamental physiological relationships of key metabolic pathways and mechanisms in sepsis is essential. The catabolism of skeletal muscles, which is manifested by an increase in protein degradation and a decrease in synthesis, persists despite state-of-the-art nutritional care. Much effort has focused on the modulation of the overall amount of nutrients given to septic patients in a hope to improve efficiencies in utilisation and N economies, rather than the support of specific end-organ targets. The present review examines current understanding of the processes affected by sepsis and testable means to circumvent the sepsis-induced defects in protein synthesis in skeletal muscle through increasing provision of amino acids (leucine, glutamine, or arginine) that in turn act as nutrient signals to regulate a number of cellular processes.


1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (3) ◽  
pp. E499-E504 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Fryburg ◽  
R. A. Gelfand ◽  
E. J. Barrett

The short-term effects of growth hormone (GH) on skeletal muscle protein synthesis and degradation in normal humans are unknown. We studied seven postabsorptive healthy men (age 18-23 yr) who received GH (0.014 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) via intrabrachial artery infusion for 6 h. The effects of GH on forearm amino acid and glucose balances and on forearm amino acid kinetics [( 3H]Phe and [14C]Leu) were determined after 3 and 6 h of the GH infusion. Forearm deep vein GH rose to 35 +/- 6 ng/ml in response to GH, whereas systemic levels of GH, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were unchanged. Forearm glucose uptake did not change during the study. After 6 h, GH suppressed forearm net release (3 vs. 6 h) of Phe (P less than 0.05), Leu (P less than 0.01), total branched-chain amino acids (P less than 0.025), and essential neutral amino acids (0.05 less than P less than 0.1). The effect on the net balance of Phe and Leu was due to an increase in the tissue uptake for Phe (71%, P less than 0.05) and Leu (37%, P less than 0.005) in the absence of any significant change in release of Phe or Leu from tissue. In the absence of any change in systemic GH, IGF-I, or insulin, these findings suggest that locally infused GH stimulates skeletal muscle protein synthesis. These findings have important physiological implications for both the role of daily GH pulses and the mechanisms through which GH can promote protein anabolism.


Author(s):  
James P. White

Skeletal muscle protein synthesis is a highly complex process, influenced by nutritional status, mechanical stimuli, repair programs, hormones, and growth factors. The molecular aspects of protein synthesis are centered around the mTORC1 complex. However, the intricacies of mTORC1 regulation, both up and downstream, have expanded overtime. Moreover, the plastic nature of skeletal muscle makes it a unique tissue, having to coordinate between temporal changes in myofiber metabolism and hypertrophy/atrophy stimuli within a tissue with considerable protein content. Skeletal muscle manages the push and pull between anabolic and catabolic pathways through key regulatory proteins to promote energy production in times of nutrient deprivation or activate anabolic pathways in times of nutrient availability and anabolic stimuli. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) can be used for both energy production and signaling to induce protein synthesis. The metabolism of BCAAs occur in tandem with energetic and anabolic processes, converging at several points along their respective pathways. The fate of intramuscular BCAAs adds another layer of regulation, which has consequences to promote or inhibit muscle fiber protein anabolism. This review will outline the general mechanisms of muscle protein synthesis and describe how metabolic pathways can regulate this process. Lastly, we will discuss how BCAA availability and demand coordinate with synthesis mechanisms and identify key factors involved in intramuscular BCAA trafficking.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 642-642
Author(s):  
Glory Madu ◽  
Olasunkanmi Adegoke

Abstract Objectives Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are essential amino acids that are crucial for skeletal muscle anabolism. Thus, alterations in their levels are associated with muscle atrophic diseases such as cancer, chronic inflammatory and neurological disorders. Others have linked impairments in BCAA metabolism to the development of insulin resistance and its sequelae. Compared to the effects of theses amino acids, much less is known on how impairment in BCAA catabolism affects skeletal muscle. BCAA catabolism starts with the reversible transamination by the mitochondrial enzyme branched-chain aminotransferase 2 (BCAT2). This is followed by the irreversible carboxylation, catalyzed by branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKD) complex. We have shown that BCAT2 and BCKD are essential for the differentiation of skeletal myoblasts into myotubes. Here, we investigated the effect of depletion of BCAT2 or of E1a subunit of BCKD in differentiated myotubes. Methods On day 4 of differentiation, L6 myotubes were transfected with the following siRNA oligonucleotides: scrambled (control), BCAT2, or E1a subunit of BCKD. Results Forty-eight hours after transfection, compared to control or BCAT2 siRNA group, we observed improved myotube structure in BCKD-depleted cells. BCKD depletion augmented myofibrillar protein levels: myosin heavy chain (MHC, 2-fold) and tropomyosin (4-fold), P < 0.05, n = 3. To further analyze the increase in myofibrillar protein content, we examined signaling through mTORC1 (mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1), a vital complex necessary for skeletal muscle anabolism. BCKD depletion increased the phosphorylation of mTORC1 upstream activator AKT (52%, P < 0.05, n = 3), and of mTORC1 downstream substrates by 25%-86%, consistent with the increase in myofibrillar proteins. Finally, in myotubes treated with the catabolic cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-a), BCKD depletion tended to increase the abundance of tropomyosin (a myofibrillar protein). Conclusions We showed that depletion of BCKD enhanced myofibrillar protein content and anabolic signaling.  If these data are confirmed in vivo, development of dietary and other interventions that target BCKD abundance or functions may promote muscle protein anabolism in individuals with muscle wasting conditions. Funding Sources MHRC, NSERC York U.


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