Metabolism of Glutamine by the Intact Functioning Kidney of the Dog STUDIES IN METABOLIC ACIDOSIS AND ALKALOSIS

Abstract

The renal conversion of glutamine to glucose and its oxidation to CO₂ were compared in dogs in chronic metabolic acidosis and alkalosis. These studies were performed at normal endogenous levels of glutamine utilizing glutamine-³⁴C (uniformly labeled) as a tracer. It was observed in five experiments in acidosis that mean renal extraction of glutamine by one kidney amounted to 27.7 μmoles/min. Of this quantity, 5.34 μmoles/min was converted to glucose, and 17.5 μmoles/min was oxidized to CO₂. Acidotic animals excreted an average of 41 μmoles/min of ammonia in the urine formed by one kidney. In contrast, in five experiments in alkalosis, mean renal extraction of glutamine amounted to 8.04 μmoles/min. Of this quantity, 0.92 μmole/min was converted to glucose, and 4.99 μmoles/min was oxidized to CO₂. Alkalotic animals excreted an average of 3.23 μmoles/min of ammonia in the urine. We conclude that renal gluconeogenesis is not rate limiting for the production and excretion of ammonia in either acidosis or alkalosis. Since 40% of total CO₂ production is derived from oxidation of glutamine by the acidotic kidney and 14% by the alkalotic kidney, it is apparent that renal energy sources change with acid-base state and that glutamine constitutes a major metabolic fuel in acidosis.