Protease and Protease Inhibitor Activity in Rat Skeletal Muscle during Growth, Protein Deficiency and Fasting

Growing rats fed a protein deficient diet showed an increase in acid and alkaline protease activity and a decrease in protease inhibitor activity. Similar results were found after two and four day fasting periods. Animals on diets of 10% and 20% casein showed parallel protease and protease inhibitor activity when compared to each other at similar body weight periods.