Failure of leucine to stimulate protein synthesis in vivo.

The effect of 100 mumol of leucine on protein synthesis in several tissues was assessed in the intact rat. Leucine had no immediate effect on protein synthesis in gastrocnemius muscle, heart, jejunal serosa, jejunal mucosa or liver in rats which were fed, starved for 2 days or deprived of dietary protein for 9 days. Leucine treatment for 1 h also failed to stimulate protein synthesis in tissues of 2-day-starved animals.