Tryptophan-induced stimulation of hepatic ornithine decarboxylase activity in the rat.

The effect of a single tube feeding of L-tryptophan on hepatic ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in rats was investigated. The levels of ODC activity in the livers of control and experimental rats were assayed in vitro by measuring the release of 14CO2 from DL-[1-14C]ornithine. Single tube feedings of varying levels of L-tryptophan (2.5-30 mg/100 g body wt) to overnight-fasted rats 1 hr before sacrifice exhibited increases in the hepatic ODC activities. L-Tryptophan (30 mg/100 g body wt) tube fed to overnight-fasted rats 1/6 to 12 hr before sacrifice induced hepatic ODC activities which were significantly elevated beginning at 1 hr and peaking at 2 hr (6.5-fold increase over controls). In vitro [14C]leucine incorporation into protein using hepatic microsomes of tryptophan-treated rats was significantly increased at 1 hr in comparison with that of controls. The tryptophan-induced stimulation of hepatic ODC activity was not affected by prior adrenalectomy but was abolished by pretreatment with cycloheximide. These studies demonstrate that a single feeding of L-tryptophan can significantly enhance in the rat the activity of ODC, a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines.