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Relationship between a long-term treatment of 2-mercaptoethanol and protein metabolism in the ageing rat

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Summary

Female RLEF1/Lati rats were chronically treated with 2-mercaptoethanol in a dose of 13 μg·100 g bw-1·day-1 dissolved in drinking water. During a 48-h experiment 15N-labelled glycine was given orally in a dose of 5 mg 15N·kg bw-1 and urine samples were collected and analysed by an emission spectrometric isotope method. Protein synthesis and nitrogen excretion rate constants were calculated according to the three-pool model, and 3-methylhistidine excretion rates were also determined. 2-Mercaptoethanol appears to influence protein metabolism; however, the slower rates of protein synthesis proved to be apparent in almost all groups of treated rats. Protein synthesis and nitrogen excretion rate constants have exceptionally high values in 2-year-old rats, possibly explained by the occurrence of hypercompensation mechanisms in old age. These were reflected by the excretion rates of 3-methylhistidine which were reduced as a result of sulphhydryl group interactions in age-dependent cellular metabolic changes.

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Abbreviations

2ME:

2-mercaptoethanol

3MeHis:

3-methylhistidine

bw:

body weight

HPLC:

high performance liquid chromatography

SD:

standard deviation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. German Institute of Nutritional Research, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114, O-1505, Bergholz-Rehbrücke, FRG

    V. Albrecht, K. J. Petzke & K. Hoppe

  2. Gerontology Centre, Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary

    L. Pénzes

Authors
  1. V. Albrecht
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  2. L. Pénzes
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  3. K. J. Petzke
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  4. K. Hoppe
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Albrecht, V., Pénzes, L., Petzke, K.J. et al. Relationship between a long-term treatment of 2-mercaptoethanol and protein metabolism in the ageing rat. J Comp Physiol B 162, 547–551 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00264816

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