Studies on liver and plasma hexosamine: Effect of low protein diet with or without supplement of L-cystine or DL-ethionine.

The incidence of fatty infiltration of liver in rats
maintained on low protein diets (casein, ragi and maize)
was studied in relation to levels of protein bound hexosamine
in -liver and plasma. The effect of dietary supplement
of DL-Ethionine or L-cystine to casein diets (5-9%
protein) was also investigated.
A decrease in plasma hexosamine and indication of
increased accumulation of lipid in livers of rats maintained
on ragi and maize diets was observed. Increase in liver bound
hexosamine was also observed in the group fed the maize diet
whereas a decrease was observed in the ragi fed group'.
L-cystine supplement (at 0.5% level) to casein diet
resulted in generalised fatty livers prevented by further
supplement of methionine and choline. Plasma protein-bound
hexosamine was unchanged when maintained for two weeks.
However, a significant increase in liver-bound hexosamine
coupled with a decrease in plasma-protein bound hexosamine
was observed in rats when the duration of the study was three
weeks'.
DL-Ethionine supplement at 0.1% level to a casein diet
(9%) resulted in increased accumulation of lipids and bound
hexosamine in livers of female rats. The serum-bound hexosamine
was not affected at this level, but at more toxic levels,
a decrease was observed.