The effect of short-term fasting and a single meal on protein synthesis and oxygen consumption in cod, Gadus morhua

Summary

Rates of protein synthesis and oxygen consumption ($\dot M$O₂) in cod were compared in both fasted and refed animals. During a 14-day fast both protein synthesis and respiration rates fell to stable values after 6 days. When a meal of whole sandeel at 6% body weight was fed to fish fasted for 6 days, protein synthesis and ($\dot M$O₂) increased to a maximum at between 12 and 18 h after feeding. Peak ($\dot M$O₂) was about twice the pre-feeding values, while whole animal protein synthesis increased four-fold. There were differences between tissues in the timing of maximum protein synthesis; the liver and stomach responded faster than the remainder of the body. Maximum protein synthesis rates in the liver and stomach occurred at 6 h after feeding, at which time their calculated contribution to total ($\dot M$O₂) was 11%. Similar calculations suggested that the integrated increment in whole animal protein synthesis contributed between 23% and 44% of the post-prandial increase in ($\dot M$O₂). It was concluded that protein synthesis is an important contributor to increased ($\dot M$O₂) after feeding in cod.