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Journal of Nutrition Vol. 102 No. 1 January 1972, pp. 37-43
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Influence of Dietary Protein on Rat Skeletal Muscle Growth1,2,

R. E. Howarth

Veterinary Physiology Department, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of feeding a protein-deficient diet on protein, RNA and DNA accumulation in rat gastrocnemius muscle. Weanling rats were fed protein-deficient diets containing 0, 6, 12 or 18% casein. The increments in muscle protein, RNA an DNA accumulation, when deficient diets were fed for 14 days, were estimated and compared to the increments in these muscle constituents in normal rats consuming a 24% casein diet. Protein and DNA content increased at rates less than normal in rats fed the 12% (P < 0.01) and 18% (P < 0.10) diets. DNA was affected more than protein. The 6% diet permitted some protein accumulation but completely inhibited DNA synthesis. Protein was lost on the protein-free diet, and there was no change in DNA content. RNA accumulation was retarded on the 12% (P < 0.01) and 18% (P < 0.10) diets. RNA was lost on the 0 and 6% diets. These results demonstrated that protein synthesis has priority over DNA synthesis when muscle growth is retarded by mild deprivation of dietary protein.

KEY WORDS: • dietary protein • skeletal muscle growth

1 Supported by Medical Research Council of Canada Research Grant AM-3640.

2 Part of these data were included in a preliminary report presented at the Meetings of the Canadian Federation of Biological Societies at Montreal, Quebec in June, 1970.

Manuscript received 15 June 1971.




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