Bioavailability of tryptophan in selected foods by rat growth assay.

Tryptophan bioavailabilities were estimated in 16 protein sources using 10 day rat growth assays with casein as the reference protein. Growth responses of rats fed test food diets were compared to growth responses of rats fed basal diets with graded levels of tryptophan ranging from 50 to 100 mg of tryptophan/100 g diet. Estimates of tryptophan availabilities were 85-100% for all products except whole wheat cereal (73%) and pinto beans (59%).

Effects of cadmium, zinc, copper and manganese on hepatic parenchymal cell gluconeogenesis.

The effects of divalent cations on gluconeogenesis in enzymatically isolated rat hepatic parenchymal cells were examined. Cadmium, zinc and copper decreased glucose production from lactate (10 mM). However, manganese at 0.