Comparative Effect of Arginine and Monosodium Glutamate on Blood Ammonia.

Abstract

Summary 1. Elevated levels of ammonia in the blood were induced in dogs by intravenous administration of glycine. 2. The effects on levels of ammonia in the blood of simultaneous or delayed administration with glycine of L-arginine hydrochloride or L-monosodium glutamate were then studied. 3. Arginine given concomitantly with glycine prevented any significant rise in blood ammonia. When administered one hour after the commencement of glycine infusion, it effected a prompt reduction of levels of ammonia in the blood. On the other hand, monosodium glutamate was only slightly effective under the former experimental conditions and completely ineffective under the latter. 4. The rise in blood urea which accompanied the marked fall in blood ammonia when arginine was given indicated that this amino acid exerted its effect on the blood ammonia by an influence on the production of urea.