Glucagon stimulation of phenylalanine metabolism. The effects of acute and chronic glucagon treatment

Abstract

The effects of acute and chronic glucagon treatment on phenylalanine metabolism in vivo in the rat have been investigated. A single, large dose of glucagon (2 mg/kg, i.p.) increased metabolism of a large load of phenylalanine (1.27 g/kg) via hydroxylation and transmination. The increased metabolism was associated with increased activities of hepatic phenylaalnine:pyruvate aminotransferase, tyrosine aminotransferase and phenylalanine hydroxylase. In rats administered this amount of phenylalanine, the p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase reaction was apparently rate limiting, as indicated by increased urinary excretion of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate and p-hydroxyphenyllactate, in addition to urinary excretion of phenylpyruvate and phenyllactate. Chronic glucagon treatment (1.25 mg/kg every 12 hr for 8 days) increased oxidation of the large phenylalanine load and urinary excretion of phenylpyruvate and phenyllactate but not p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate or p-hydroxyphenyllactate. The increased excretion of phenylpyruvate and phenyllactate was associated with an increase in hepatic phenylalanine: pyruvate aminotransferase activity. The absence of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate in the urine and the increased oxidation of phenylalanine imply that, in rats administered glucagon chronically, flux of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate through the p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase reaction was increased. A kinetic assay for phenylalanine hydroxylase based on measurement of oxygen consumption is described.