Comparative studies on free amino acids in female reproductive tissues

Abstract

The free amino acid pools of human and animal female reproductive tissues were quantitatively determined. Human ovary had higher levels of taurine, nitrogenous phospholipid components, and aspartic acid than uterus. Endometrium tended to be lower in glutamine and aspartic and glutamic acids than uterus. Cervix was high in ammonia. Comparative analyses of ovary and uterus from the rabbit, dog, cat, rat, mouse, hamster, guinea pig, and monkey were also carried out and some species differences were noted. Animal tissues resembled the human samples except that taurine was higher in uterus than ovary. Despite the variety of animals investigated, with differing diets and breeding habits, the free amino acid pools did not deviate greatly from a common pattern. Large and repeated doses of testosterone and estradiol had little effect on the free amino acids of rat ovary. Hypophysectomy reduced free amino acids in rat ovary and uterus to the same extent despite an increase in serum amino acids. Rodent ovaries were found to contain appreciable amounts of an amino acid with the same column elution time as gamma aminobutyric acid.