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Effects of Prolonged Daily Treatment of Normal Rats with Saline Anterior Pituitary Extract

II. Protein and Energy Metabolism¹

Institute of Animal Nutrition, Pennsylvania State College, State College

The effects of daily treatment of normal young male and female rats with saline anterior pituitary extract (A.P.E.) over a period of 12 weeks was investigated with respect to the energy metabolism of protein and non-protein nutrients, and to the progressive changes of fasting metabolism relative to body weight and sex.

The total heat production under conditions of normal nutrition was increased by the A.P.E. The net increase was the resultant of a diminished protein oxidation and a relatively larger increase in non-protein oxidation.

In male rats the fasting heat production was initially increased, but this effect gradually disappeared and was finally reversed. In female rats the fasting metabolism was increased throughout the period of observation. The heat of protein katabolism during fast was initially decreased, but after 2 weeks or more of treatment it was greater than that in the controls for both sexes. This was attributed to the development of a protein plethora.

The regression of the fasting heat on body weight indicated that the changes in body substance induced by the A.P.E. (or its antagonist, in the male rats) were not as active, metabolically, as were tissue changes in untreated rats.

The A.P.E. appeared to act as a specific stimulant of cellular metabolism and, at the same time, was effective in promoting an increase in body substance which was less energetic than that assimilated normally. In the male rats an antagonistic agent developed which opposed both of these effects.

Manuscript received 13 June 1942.