Influence of Refeeding with Vitamin, Mineral and Fibre on Protein Synthesis and Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Content in the Liver and Muscle of Fasted Chicks

The influence of refeeding with either vitamin, mineral, fibre of water on protein synthesis and mRNA content in the liver and breast muscle of fasted chicks was investigated. At 15 d of age, chicks were fasted for 2 d and then refed either vitamin, mineral, fibre or water. The fractional synthesis rate (FSR) of protein was measured after 30 min of refeeding by using a large dose injection of L - 2, $6[^3H]$ phenylalanine. In the liver, FSR was reduced by fasting and tended to increase but not significantly by refeeding with vitamin or mineral. FSR was not affected by refeeding with fibre or water. There was no influence of fasting and refeeding on ribosomal capacity (the RNA : protein ratio) and ribosomal efficiency (total protein synthesised per total RNA). The absolute synthesis rate (ASR) of liver protein and hepatic mRNA content were reduced by fasting and unchanged by refeeding. In the muscle, FSR, ASR and mRNA content were significantly decreased by fasting and not recovered by refeeding with either vitamin, mineral, fibre or water. It concluded that vitamin, mineral, fibre and water have little capacity to stimulate liver and muscle protein synthesis reduced by fasting.