Metabolic Effects of L-Glutamic Acid and of Glycine

Abstract

Rabbits receiving 2 g/kg subcutaneously of glycine or sodium glutamate insolution at pH 7.0 responded with a marked hyperglycemia. These animals showed a decrease in liver glycogen, but no change in blood pressure. Hypoglycemic rabbits were protected from death by sodium glutamate in doses of 2 g/kg but not by an equivalent amount of glycine. Rabbits receiving sodium glutamate, 2 g/kg, responded with a fall in pyruvic acid and a rise in alpha-ketoglutaric acid in the blood.