Effect of injury on albumin synthesis in the rabbit.

The rate of albumin synthesis was measured by a technique based on the partition of intravenously injected NaCO between the guanidine carbon of arginine in albumin and the carbon of urea. Groups of at least 3 Dutch rabbits were studied before and 1, 3, 7 and 16 days after fracture of one femur, with pair-fed animals as controls. The absolute rate of albumin synthesis (g/kg d) was significantly decreased on Days 1 and 3 after fracture. On Day 1 after injury the synthetic rate of albumin fell by 30% and 60% of this decrease could be attributed to altered protein intake; the remaining 40% represents the metabolic response to trauma. It is suggested that impaired synthesis is a major cause of the fall in plasma albumin concentration which occurs after trauma.