Effect of exogenous cortisone on amino acid metabolism in rats

1. The effect of exogenous cortisone on concentration of free amino acids in serum, skeletal muscle, kidney, small intestine and liver was studied. 2. The amino acid pool in serum, skeletal muscle and small intestine decreased significantly. 3. Glutamine synthesis increased significantly in skeletal muscle. 4. Levels of branched amino acids increased in serum and small intestine. 5. Levels of alanine increased in kidney and liver.     

Enzymes of the glucuronic acid pathway in Wistar and Gunn rats and their heterozygotes

A significant difference in UDP glucuronyltransferase activity (with p-nitrophenol as an acceptor) was found in the liver and kidneys of homozygous Wistar and Gunn rats. There was also a significant difference in hepatic UDP glucuronyltransferase activity between homozygous Wistar and heterozygous Gunn rats when the enzyme preparations were first activated by adding surfactants to the reaction mixture. This determination of surfactant-activated UDP glucuronyltransferase can be used to distinguish Wistar rats from heterozygous Gunn rats. Other enzymes of the glucuronic acid pathway were also studied in the liver and kidneys of homozygous Wistar and Gunn rats, but no differences were found.This study has been supported by grants from the U.S. Public Health Service (AM-06018-09 and the National Research Council for Natural Sciences, Finland.