Differential effect of lentil feeding on proteosynthesis rates in the large intestine, liver and muscle of rats1

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Abstract

The aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that the trophic effect of lentil feeding on large intestine results from a stimulation of protein synthesis and to determine whether it interferes with protein metabolism in other splanchnic or peripheral organs. Two groups of growing Sprague Dawley male rats were pair-fed iso-caloric iso-nitrogenous balanced diets containing either cooked lentils (Lens esculenta puyensis) or casein as unique protein source. Protein synthesis rates were measured in vivo, in large intestine, liver and gastrocnemius at the postprandial state. In large intestine, protein and ribonucleic acid contents were higher in the lentil-fed group than in the control group, and the amount of proteins synthesized was also higher (+57%). By contrast, liver protein and ribonucleic acid contents as well as protein synthesis rates were significantly lower in the lentil-fed group than in the control group. In the gastrocnemius muscle protein and ribonucleic acid contents were significantly lower and the amount of protein synthesized was also lower (-18%) in the lentil fed group than in the control group. This study suggests that stimulation of protein synthesis in the large intestine is compensated for by a decrease in liver and muscle.

Introduction

Lentils have been cultivated, harvested, stored and finally cooked for human nutrition purposes since thousands of years. They are now considered as one of the legumes most beneficial for health. The lentil seed is a valuable source of proteins, starch and non starchy carbohydrates, minerals and micronutrients, including some tannins [1], [2]. The activity of its lectins and antitrypsic factors is low and non toxic [3] and they are destroyed by adequate cooking. The nutritional interest of whole lentil seed has been stressed for its beneficial effect in diabetes [4], and for its ability to develop intestinal microflora [5]. However, like other legumes, lentils are also known to have a lower protein efficiency for growth, as compared to animal protein sources. Moreover, they have a trophic effect on the tissues of large intestine [6], but their effect on small intestine is uncertain [6], [7]. The aim of this work was to check if lentil feeding may affect protein metabolism in other splanchnic or peripheral organs and to test the hypothesis that this increase of tissues and particularly in the large intestine was caused by increased protein synthesis. Consequently, protein synthesis rates were measured in vivo in the tissues of rats fed either a cooked lentil diet, or a control diet.

Section snippets

Animals

All procedures were performed according to the guidelines formulated by the European Community for the use of experimental animals (L358-86/609/EEC). Sixteen Sprague Dawley male rats (76 g, 3 to 4 weeks old) purchased from IFFA CREDO (St Germain l'Arbresle, France) were housed in individual stainless steel wire mesh cages with free access to water, and maintained at 22 ± 1°C on a 12-hr dark/light cycle starting at 09.00 am. They were assigned to homogenous groups of 8 on the basis of body mass

Results

Growth rates were not significantly different (P = 0.212) in the lentil fed group as compared to its pair-fed casein control group (Table 2). However food efficiency ratio was more discriminating, because of lower within-group variability: it was lower in the lentil group than in the casein group by 12% and the difference was significant (P = 0.015).

In the plasma, glycemia values were slightly lower and uremia values were higher in the lentil fed group than in the controls, but the differences

Discussion

The nutritional value of the cooked lentil diet supplemented with sulfur amino acids according to the requirements of the growing rat, would appear almost as good as the control casein diet for growth of the rat, however food efficiency was lower (12%). This implies that metabolic utilization for growth of the proteins from the cooked lentils must be limited by some other factors which could be revealed by their specific effect on protein metabolism: a trophic effect on large intestine which

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    1

    This work is part of a bilateral scientific collaboration between INRA France and University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

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