Interactions of neutral and acidic amino acids in renal tubular transport

Abstract

The effects of intravenous infusions of a variety of neutral and acidic amino acids on the plasma concentrations and excretions of naturally occurring amino acids were studied in dogs. Conventional clearance techniques were used, and the amino acid concentrations were determined by ion exchange column chromatography. Infusion of either l-glutamic acid or l-aspartic acid caused a gross increase in the plasma concentration and excretion of the other. Infusions of neutral amino acids including glycine, l-alanine, l-leucine, l-methionine, l-proline, and l-phenylalanine caused some minor changes in the endogenous plasma amino acid concentrations. They produced increases in the excretion of other neutral amino acids and, in some cases, of acidic and basic amino acids as well. In general, amino acids with long side chains were most effective in inhibiting reabsorption while cyclic side-chain compounds were less effective. There appear to be at least three somewhat separable mechanisms for renal tubular reabsorption of amino acids in dogs.