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Plasma Adrenocorticosteroid Levels in Protein and Energy Restricted Pigs¹

Division of Nutritional Sciences and Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853

Pigs (Yorkshire) were subjected to protein-energy malnutrition in the following manner: 3- or 4-week-old pigs from control dams were fed a control diet (18% protein), an energy-restricted diet (18% protein), or a low protein diet (6% and 3% protein) for 8 weeks. Energy restriction was achieved by feeding the control diet in amounts that allowed some growth, but only to an extent equal to the low protein diet being matched. After the restriction period, all pigs were fed the control diet for another 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected at intervals from the superior vena cava. Plasma samples were analyzed for corticosteroids in all groups and for free cortisol in the controls and 3% protein groups. No significant differences were found for total plasma corticosteroids among all groups. Free cortisol was found significantly higher in the 3% group compared to the controls. An ACTH test was performed with depleted and recovered pigs of the 3% protein group and controls. No differences were found among controls, depleted and recovered pigs.

KEY WORDS: • malnutrition • adrenocorticosteroids • protein deficiency • energy deficiency

¹ Supported in part by funds provided through the State University of New York and Public Health Research Grant no. HD-02581 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

² Present address: Departamento de Fistiologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas. Universidade de Sao Paulo. Brasil. Postdoctoral research associate supported by Sao Paulo State Research Foundation and the University of Sao Paulo, Brasil.

³ Present address: Institute of Applied Nutrition, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Manuscript received 15 December 1975.