Influence of triiodothyronine and dexamethasone on renal amino acid handling in rats loaded with various amino acid mixtures

Summary In adult female rats, the influence of dexamethasone or triiodothyronine on renal amino acid handling was investigated in amino acid loaded animals. Amino acids were administered intravenously as two mixtures, each containing four amino acids to overload amino acid reabsorption capacity. Bolus injections of both mixtures were followed by temporary increase in fractional excretion of the administered amino acids as well of the amino acids which were not covered in the mixtures. The administration of the two mixtures was followed by different interactions between various amino acid carriers.After dexamethasone pretreatment (60µg/100g b.wt. for 3 days, once daily) a stimulation of the renal amino acid handling could be shown. Triiodothyronine (20µg/100g b.wt. for 3 days, once daily) did not increase tubular reabsorption capacity for amino acids. It even increased fractional amino acid excretion in amino acid loaded rats as a sign of enhanced amino acid metabolism in the kidney and/or increased amino acid uptake into the tubular cells from the luminal site.