The hepatic amino acid system A transport activity, is up-regulated in obese Zucker rats.

The utilization of L-alanine by liver is dependent on amino acid uptake from blood. This uptake, mainly mediated by the A transport system, may be regulated by different nutritional and physiologic conditions. The regulation of this transport system by diets with different protein content was tested in lean and obese Zucker rats.

Changes in UCP expression in tissues of Zucker rats fed diets with different protein content.

The effect of dietary protein content on the uncoupling proteins (UCP) 1, 2 and 3 expression in a number of tissues of Zucker lean and obese rats was studied. Thirty-day-old male Zucker lean (Fa/?) and obese (fa/fa) rats were fed on hyperproteic (HP, 30% protein), standard (RD, 17% protein) or hypoproteic (LP, 9% protein) diets ad libitum for 30 days. Although dietary protein intake affected the weights of individual muscles in lean and obese animals, these weights were similar.

Absorption of a protein gavage in Zucker lean rats. Influence of protein content in the diet.

The rate of protein absorption was measured in Zucker lean rats. Rats were fed with a bolus that contained ca. 300 mg of 14C-labelled protein at the beginning of the light cycle.

Oral gavage of oleoyl-oestrone has a stronger effect on body weight in male Zucker obese rats than in female.

This study was carried out to determine the effect of sex and oral administration of oleoyl-oestrone on body weight of 12-week-old female and male Zucker obese (fa/fa) rats initially weighing 350-380 g and 405-420 g, respectively. The rats were maintained in standard conditions and given a daily oral gavage of 0.2 ml oleoyl-oestrone dissolved in sunflower oil at a dose of 10 micromol/kg/day for 10 days, and their body weight and food intake was monitored.