Abstract
1. Administration of cycloheximide (an inhibitor of protein synthesis) to lactating rats raised the concentrations of amino acids, and in particular, the branched-chain amino acids (valine, leucine and isoleucine) in blood, liver and mammary gland. 2. Inhibition of protein synthesis increased the incorporation in vivo of L-[U-14C]leucine into lipids of mammary gland and liver. 3. Cycloheximide treatment caused no immediate change in the overall rate of lipogenesis in vivo (measured with 3H2O) in mammary gland but increased the rate in liver 3-fold; this latter effect also occurred in livers of virgin rats. 4. The increased rate of hepatic lipogenesis was not accompanied by significant changes in the plasma insulin concentration or the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. 5. Although cycloheximide decreased the entry of total triacylglycerol into the circulation it did not alter the rate of secretion of newly synthesized saponifiable lipid. 6. Cycloheximide slightly stimulated lipogenesis from endogenous substrates in isolated hepatocytes, but this effect was abolished when lactate was the exogenous substrate. 7. Administration of cycloheximide to virgin rats decreased liver glycogen and increased the hepatic content of glucose 6-phosphate, pyruvate and lactate. 8. It is concluded that (a) there is no short-term link between the rate of protein synthesis and lipogenesis in the lactating mammary gland and (b) the increased rate of hepatic lipogenesis in cycloheximide-treated rats is mainly due to stimulation of glycogenolysis, glycolytic flux and consequent increased availability of pyruvate.