Evidence suggesting that the elevated plasma triiodothyronine concentration of rats fed on protein deficient diets is physiologically active

Some metabolic indicators of thyroid hormone activity have been investigated in rats fed on either protein-deficient or energy-restricted diets. Rats were divided into three groups. Control animals were maintained on a diet of protein energy: total energy (P:E) value of 0.20, while the low-protein group (LP) were allowed ad lib. access to food of P:E 0.03. Energy-restricted (ER) rats were given limited amounts of a control diet (P:E 0.20) such that their rate of growth matched that of LP animals. Animals fed on the LP diet had elevated plasma concentrations of both total and free triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations whereas those on the ER regiment showed values below those of controls. The activities of mitochondrial alpha-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.5) and of the alpha-glycerol-3-phosphate shuttle system were elevated in the liver of LP rats, but malate-aspartate shuttle operation was reduced. All three activities were reduced in ER animals. Cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) activity of brown adipose tissue indicated a high rate of thermogenic activity in this tissue in LP rats, but ER animals showed some evidence of below normal function. The results indicate that both the raised plasma T3 of LP rats and the reduced levels observed in ER animals are physiologically significant.