Decreased plasma proteins, increased total plasma-free amino acids, and disturbed amino acid metabolism in the hereditary severe anemia of the Belgrade laboratory (b/b) rat.
The plasma amino acid pattern has been investigated in severely anemic Belgrade laboratory (b/b) rats. Nonanemic heterozygous (b/+) or normal homozygous (+/+) rats of the same age (six weeks) were used as controls. Decreased plasma proteins, increased total free amino acid, and urea concentrations in plasma associated with increased urea and 3-methylhistidine urinary excretion were found, indicating protein and amino acid metabolic alterations in anemic b/b rats. Plasma alanine, glutamine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine concentrations were increased. The significantly reduced molar ratio between valine+leucine+isoleucine and phenylalanine+tyrosine suggested severe disturbance in the hepatic energy-producing system and derangement of hepatic energy status. Partial or complete reversal of the anemia within 3 days by red blood cell transfusion or within 3 weeks by iron treatment resulted in normalization of tyrosine, alanine, glutamine, and total amino acid concentrations in plasma, as well as of molar ratio between valine+leucine+isoleucine and phenylalanine+tyrosine. This indicated a better oxygen supply to the liver and normalization of the hepatic energy status. These findings suggest that the metabolic disturbances in the b/b rat are the consequence of hypoxia due to the severe anemia.
Institute for Medical Research, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
G
G
Zunić
Z
Z
Rolović
N
N
Basara
M
M
Simović
M
M
Vasiljevski
D000409:Alanine / Q000097:blood; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000097:blood; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D008297:Male; D008762:Methylhistidines / Q000652:urine; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D011922:Rats, Mutant Strains; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000097:blood; D014508:Urea / Q000652:urine
D000596:Amino Acids; D001798:Blood Proteins; D008762:Methylhistidines; D005973:Glutamine; D014443:Tyrosine; D010649:Phenylalanine; D014508:Urea; C028118:3-methylhistidine; D000409:Alanine