Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Profile of Plasma Amino Acid Levels in Rats Exposed to Acute Hypoxic Hypoxia

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:
Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of acute hypoxic hypoxia on the profile of plasma amino acids in rats was studied and compared to that resulting from acute liver injury induced by giving carbon tetrachloride. In hypoxic rats exposed to 45% air in N2 for 5 h, the concentrations of branched chain amino acids, including valine, leucine and isoleucine, and aromatic amino acids such as phenylalanine and tyrosine were significantly increased as compared to those in normoxic rats. The ratio of branched-chain to aromatic amino acids (Fischer’s ratio) was significantly decreased. The levels of arginine and citrulline, which are related to the urea cycle, were also depressed. Furthermore, plasma proline level was reduced in hypoxic rats. The activities of plasma marker enzymes for tissue damage remained unchanged during hypoxia, indicating that tissue injury was not induced by exposure to hypoxic conditions. We suggest that the characteristic profile of plasma amino acids and the Fischer ratio are valuable tools for understanding the pathology of acute hypoxia in the absence of systemic tissue damage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Jennings RB, Reimer KA. Lethal myocardial ischemic injury. Am J Pathol. 1981;102:241–55.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ferber JL, Chien KR, Mittnacht S. The pathogenesis of irreversible cell injury in ischemia. Am J Pathol. 1981;102:271–81.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Muratsubaki H, Enomoto K, Ichijoh Y, Yamamoto Y. Hypertriglyceridemia associated with decreased post-heparin plasma hepatic triglyceride lipase activity in hypoxic rats. Arch Physiol Biochem. 2003;111:449–54.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Elwyn DH. The role of the liver in regulation of amino acid and protein metabolism. In: Munro HN, editor. Mammalian protein metabolism, vol. 4. New York: Academic Press; 1970. p. 523–57.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Flock EV, Mann FC, Bollman JL. Free amino acids in plasma and muscle following total removal of the liver. J Biol Chem. 1951;192:293–300.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kedenburg CP. A lithium buffer system for accelerated single-column amino acid analysis in physiological fluids. Anal Biochem. 1971;40:35–42.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Henry RJ, Chiamori N, Golub OJ, Berkman S. Revised spectrophotometric methods for determination of glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, and lactic dehydrogenase. Am J Clin Pathol. 1960;34:381–98.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Fischer JE, Rosen HM, Ebeid AM, James JH, Keane JM, Soeters PB. The effect of normalization of plasma amino acids on hepatic encephalopathy in man. Surgery. 1976;80:77–91.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Campollo O, Sprengers D, McIntyre N. The BCAA/AAA ratio of plasma amino acids in three different groups of cirrhotics. Rev Invest Clin. 1992;44:513–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Holecek M, Mraz J, Tilser I. Plasma amino acids in four models of experimental liver injury in rats. Amino acids. 1996;10:229–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ratner S. Enzymes of arginine and urea synthesis. Adv Enzymol. 1973;39:1–90.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyorin University, Miyashita, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-8508, Japan

    Haruhiro Muratsubaki & Akiko Yamaki

Authors
  1. Haruhiro Muratsubaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Akiko Yamaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Haruhiro Muratsubaki.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Muratsubaki, H., Yamaki, A. Profile of Plasma Amino Acid Levels in Rats Exposed to Acute Hypoxic Hypoxia. Ind J Clin Biochem 26, 416–419 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-011-0125-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-011-0125-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation