Free amino acid patterns of certain tissues from potassium and/or protein-deficient rats.

Abstract

Tracings of amino acid patterns obtained chromatographically on the tungstic acid filtrates of skeletal muscle, diaphragm, kidney and liver from normal, and protein- and/or K-deficient rats have been presented. Also presented were the tracings of amino acid patterns of the same tissues from rats maintained on a control and a low-K diet and administered DCA. Evidence was presented indicating that the amino acids lysine and arginine were increased in the skeletal muscle, diaphragm and kidney from rats with K deficiency, with or without DCA administration. Concomitant to these changes, there appeared to be a decreased concentration of the amino acids aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The amino acid pattern of the liver from K-deficient rats remained essentially normal. The administration of a KCl solution by stomach tube during 24 hours to the K-deficient rats resulted in a normalization of the amino acid patterns. The amino acid patterns of skeletal muscle, diaphragm and kidney from protein- and K-deficient rats were found to be normal. However, the amino acid patterns of these tissues were found to have reverted to those observed with the K-depleted rats upon supplementing the diet of the doubly deficient animals with protein for 6 days. The significance of a possible transfer of amino acids along with a shift of H+ into muscle cells in exchange for K+ in the development of an alkalosis found in K-deficient rats was briefly commented upon.