title: Alanylglutamine reduces muscle loss of alanine and glutamine in post-operative anaesthetized dogs.
abstract: 1. The present study examined the effect of an infusion of the dipeptide alanylglutamine or of the corresponding amino acids alanine and glutamine in equimolar amounts (10 mumol min-1 kg-1) on the canine hindlimb exchange of alanine and glutamine in the post-operative anaesthetized dog. In contrast to glutamine, the dipeptide alanylglutamine is stable in aqueous solution and therefore would be a suitable substrate for parenteral nutrition. 2. The infusion of alanylglutamine increased (a) the arterial concentration of alanylglutamine to a plateau level (120 +/- 9.5 mumol/l, mean +/- SEM) 20 min after start of the infusion, (b) the mean arterial alanine concentration from 761 +/- 42 to a plateau of 1500-1700 mumol/l (P greater than 0.01) and (c) the arterial glutamine concentration from 407 +/- 51 to a plateau of 1050-1500 mumol/l (P greater than 0.01). Alanine and glutamine levels were slightly higher (14% and 26%, respectively, NS) in the group receiving the equimolar amount of alanine and glutamine. 3. Infusion of alanylglutamine for 1 h abolished the net efflux of glutamine (from -0.80 +/- 0.1 to -0.03 +/- 0.2 mumol min-1 kg-1; P greater than 0.05) and invoked a net influx of alanine (from -0.50 +/- 0.19 to +0.27 +/- 0.14 mumol min-1 kg-1; P greater than 0.01). These changes were similar to those achieved when the two amino acids were infused. 4. This study demonstrates that during short-term administration of alanylglutamine or of the corresponding amino acids the nitrogen release from the hindlimb of the anaesthetized post-operative dog via alanine and glutamine is reduced.
authors.affiliation: 1st Surgical University Clinic, Department of Surgical Pathophysiology, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ollenschläger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simmel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fürst
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Funovics
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006614:Hindlimb; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism*; D011184:Postoperative Period
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; D005973:Glutamine; D000409:Alanine; C054122:alanylglutamine