Renal amino acid reabsorption in hyperphenylalaninemic monkeys infused with beta-2-thienylalanine.

Abstract

β-2-Thienylalanine (α amino-thiopheneproprionic acid), first synthesized by Barger and Easson in 1938 1, is a potent inhibitor of phenylalanine metabolism in bacteria as shown by the bacterial-inhibition test developed by Guthrie 2 and employed in the screening of human neonates for the detection of phenylketonuria. It has been shown by Godin and Dolan 3 to affect phenylalanine metabolism in rats. When administered to mammals, β-2-thienylalanine is largely excreted by the kidney. The present study examines the effect of β-2-thienylalanine on renal excretion of phenylalanine and other amino acids in the monkey.Methods. Four healthy, adult, male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatto) which weighed 6.26–8.75 kg were used. The animals were usually fed Purina Monkey Chow, fruits, and vitamins but were fasted for 8 hr before and throughout the experiment. They were lightly anesthetized with intravenous 5-allyl-5(1-methyl butyl)-2 thiobarbiturate (Surital, Parke-Davis, Co.) 30 mg/kg and an intravenous drip of 2.5% dext...