Metabolism of albumin and body fluid compartments in protein deficiency--an experimental study in the rhesus monkey
Deo, M.G.; Bhan, A.K.; Ramalingaswami, V.
Journal of Nutrition 104(7): 858-864
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 4134887 Document Number: 73758
Young male rhesus monkeys were fed on a 15% protein diet that supported growth well for 3 to 4 weeks and then 9 of them were fed by tube on a very low protein diet and 4 controls on a 16% protein diet for 9 weeks; the diets were identical except in protein content and provided 100 kcal/kg daily. Plasma protein, albumin turnover, sodium space and plasma volume were measured before and after the 9 weeks. For the first 2 weeks on low-protein diet the monkeys maintained bodyweight but then began to lose it and after 9 weeks had lost about 20% of their initial weight. At autopsy the deprived monkeys had periportal fatty livers, atrophy of exocrine pancreas, salivary glands and gastrointestinal tract, spleen and skeletal muscle. Plasma proteins fell, mainly the albumin, and in controls plasma proteins and albumin rose but gamma -globulin concentrations were unchanged in both groups. Protein deficiency reduced the mean basal exchangeable albumin pool to half normal size and the extravascular pool was affected more than the circulating pool; in controls albumin pools rose uniformly. Plasma volumes fell in both groups after 9 weeks but as a percentage of bodyweight were significantly lower only in the control group. Sodium space did not change significantly with diet.