Amino Acids in the Production of Blood Constituents in Rats

Abstract

Rats, shortly after weaning, were depleted of blood proteins and the formed elements of the blood by multiple bleedings while receiving a protein-free diet. The effect of diets deficient in a single “essential” amino acid on recovery of the blood values was studied. Each amino acid deficiency, except that of arginine, had some adverse effect on blood regeneration, but these effects were quite variable. Histidine, valine and leucine deficiencies had significant effects on the recovery of red cells. Isoleucine and lysine deficiencies also affected the regeneration of hemoglobin, while arginine, methionine and tryptophan deficiencies had the least effects. Valine deficiency apparently affected the regeneration of polymorphonuclear granulocytes and of other white blood cells, while deficiencies of all of the 10 amino acids tested except arginine, leucine and methionine appeared to affect adversely the regeneration of serum proteins. The animals failed to gain weight on diets deficient in each single amino acid except arginine. The growth of the animals on the arginine-deficient diet was less than on a diet containing all 10 essential amino acids. Tremors developed on rations deficient in valine, leucine, tryptophan, isoleucine or phenylalanine.