Dietary protein-induced changes in porcine muscle respiration, protein synthesis and adipose tissue metabolism.

Growth rate, physically separable tissues of the ham and loin, heat production, skeletal muscle respiration and protein synthesis, and lipogenesis and lipolysis in s.c. adipose tissue were measured in a single experiment in which pigs were offered a 13 (n = 8), or 21% (n = 6) protein diet from 20 to 100 kg live weight. Pigs that were fed the 13% protein diet gained body weight slower, ate less, converted feed less efficiently and took 31 d longer to reach 100 kg live weight. Fat depth (cm) was greater (P less than .05) and loin eye area (cm2) was less (P less than .01) in pigs fed the 13% protein diet (2.6 vs 2.3 and 29.8 vs 35.3). Pigs that were fed the 13% protein diet had lower (P less than .05) ham and loin separable muscle and greater (P less than .05) ham and loin separable fat. The mean heat production was less (P less than .05) in pigs offered the 13% (22.49) vs 21% (24.63 MJ/d) protein diets. In the intercostal muscle preparation, total and Na+,K+-ATPase-dependent respiration (microliter O2.mg-1.h-1) were lower (P less than .05) in pigs offered the 13% (2.39 and .41) vs the 21% (3.89 and .68) protein diets. The energy used for the support of Na+ transport across membrane accounted for approximately 17% of muscle respiration. Absolute rates of protein synthesis in the muscle preparations were lower (P less than .01) at 13 than at 21% dietary protein. Lipogenesis in s.c. adipose tissue was not affected by dietary protein level. There was no difference in basal and norepinephrine-stimulated lipolysis between the two dietary protein levels.