Protein synthesis in specific tissues during sepsis.

Background: The hypothesis that fractional protein synthesis rates (Ks) are tissue-specific and bidirectional during sepsis was tested in an animal model.

Material and methods: Ks in liver, triceps muscle, and diaphragm were measured in septic (n = 27) and control rats (n = 26). Sepsis was induced by a reproducible model established in our laboratory (intraperitoneal injection of sterile NaOH 0.75 N at 0.075 ml/100 g of body weight). Ks were measured using the flooding-dose method in tissue obtained from the diaphragm, liver, and from the triceps muscle.

Results: In hepatic and diaphragmatic tissue, Ks were significantly higher in the septic animals (Ks: 112.2 +/- 8 and 5.4 +/- 1.9, respectively) than in control animals (Ks: 78.5 +/- 13 and 2.9 +/- 1.7, respectively). In the triceps, Ks were significantly lower in septic animals (Ks: 2.9 +/- 1.4) than in control animals (Ks: 5 +/- 1.8).

Conclusion: The results suggest that in septic animals the rate of protein synthesis is enhanced in tissues of priority, such as the liver, and varies in response to differences in muscle activity.