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1. The specific activities of fatty acid synthetase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and pyruvate dehydrogenase were measured in rat adipose-tissue extracts in pregnancy and lactation. Fatty acid synthetase specific activity correlates very closely with the rate of fatty acid synthesis, the enzyme specific activity decreasing after mid-pregnancy in a manner very similar to the rate of fatty acid synthesis. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase specific activity also decreases dramatically after mid-pregnancy. Initial pyruvate dehydrogenase specific activity shows a decrease between 2 days pre partum and 2 days post partum, but total enzyme activity shows no significant change in the same period. 2. Immunotitrations of fatty acid synthetase and pyruvate dehydrogenase activities were carried out; the titrations showed that the change in the fatty acid synthetase activity is due to a change in the enzyme amount; the amount of pyruvate dyhydrogenase does not change. Therefore the decrease in fatty acid biosynthesis in subcutaneous and parametrial adipose tissue in late pregnancy and early lactation is associated with a decrease in the amount of at least one of the enzymes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. The correlation of these events with known hormonal changes is discussed.

1. Tissue composition and skeletal muscle cathepsin D (EC3.4.23.5) activity weremeasured in wether lambs treated with trenbolone acetate (TBA) and oestradiol-17β (Oe) in combination and female lambs treated with TBA or zeranol. Muscle and liver protein fractional synthesis rates and plasma leucine flux were measured in the female lambs.2. Male castrate lambs treated with TBA plus Oe showed increased growth rate, improvedfood conversion efficiency, decreased muscle RNA concentration and decreased total cathepsin D activity in muscle.3. Female lambs treated with TBA or zeranol showed increased weight gain, improved food conversion efficiency, decreased muscle RNA and DNA concentrations and decreased free cathepsin D activity in muscle. Mixed muscle protein fractional synthesis rate was decreasedafter TBA treatment. Plasma leucine flux, not corrected for oxidation or food intake, wasnot increased by TBA or zeranol treatment.4. Treatment of female lambs with TBA or zeranol caused increased growth rate. This increased growth rate is probably due in part to decreased muscle protein degradation, since evidence was obtained that muscle protein synthesis is decreased by TBA and zeranol treatment.