We studied the plasma amino acid profiles in four models of hepatic injury in rats. In partially hepatectomized rats (65% of liver was removed) we observed significant increase of aromatic amino acids (AAA; i.e. tyrosine and phenylalanine), taurine, aspartate, threonine, serine, asparagine, methionine, ornithine and histidine. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA; i.e. valine, leucine and isoleucine) concentrations were unchanged. In ischemic and carbon tetrachloride acute liver damage we observed extreme elevation of most of amino acids (BCAA included) and very low concentration of arginine. In carbon tetrachloride induced liver cirrhosis we observed increased levels of AAA, aspartate, asparagine, methionine, ornithine and histidine and decrease of BCAA, threonine and cystine. BCAA/AAA ratio decreased significantly in partially hepatectomized and cirrhotic rats and was unchanged in ischemic and acute carbon tetrachloride liver damage. We conclude that a high increase of most of amino acids is characteristic of fulminant hepatic necrosis; decreased BCAA/AAA ratio is characteristic of liver cirrhosis; and decrease of BCAA/AAA ratio may not be used as an indicator of the severity of hepatic parenchymal damage.

Department of Physiology Charles University School of Medicine Šimkova 870 500 38 Hradec Králové Czech Republic

Zobrazit více v PubMed

Eur J Clin Invest. 1976 Sep 10;6(5):387-94 PubMed

Dig Dis Sci. 1985 Sep;30(9):819-23 PubMed

Rev Invest Clin. 1992 Oct-Dec;44(4):513-8 PubMed

Adv Enzymol Relat Areas Mol Biol. 1973;39:1-90 PubMed

Histochemistry. 1983;78(4):459-72 PubMed

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1975 Oct;72(10):4033-6 PubMed

J Lab Clin Med. 1957 Sep;50(3):417-25 PubMed

Metabolism. 1979 Apr;28(4):313-9 PubMed

Am J Dig Dis. 1978 Jul;23(7):591-8 PubMed

J Biol Chem. 1951 Sep;192(1):293-300 PubMed

Dig Dis Sci. 1982 Feb;27(2):97-102 PubMed

Prog Neurobiol. 1987;28(3):277-301 PubMed

Scand J Gastroenterol. 1981;16(5):689-92 PubMed

Exp Pathol. 1982;22(4):245-52 PubMed

Clin Chem. 1989 Jul;35(7):1399-403 PubMed

J Hepatol. 1991 Jul;13(1):14-20 PubMed

Int J Artif Organs. 1984 Jul;7(4):197-202 PubMed

Gastroenterology. 1977 Mar;72(3):483-7 PubMed

Surgery. 1975 Sep;78(3):276-90 PubMed

Eur J Clin Invest. 1983 Jun;13(3):215-20 PubMed

Muscle Amino Acid and Adenine Nucleotide Metabolism during Exercise and in Liver Cirrhosis: Speculations on How to Reduce the Harmful Effects of Ammonia

The role of skeletal muscle in the pathogenesis of altered concentrations of branched-chain amino acids (valine, leucine, and isoleucine) in liver cirrhosis, diabetes, and other diseases

Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Branched-Chain Keto Acids in Hyperammonemic States: Metabolism and as Supplements

Effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate supplementation on skeletal muscle in healthy and cirrhotic rats

Muscle wasting and branched-chain amino acid, alpha-ketoglutarate, and ATP depletion in a rat model of liver cirrhosis

Branched-chain amino acids in health and disease: metabolism, alterations in blood plasma, and as supplements

Evidence of a vicious cycle in glutamine synthesis and breakdown in pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy-therapeutic perspectives

Muscle wasting in animal models of severe illness