Distribution of [alpha]-aminoisobutyric-C14 acid in rats deficient in thiamine, pantothenate, fatty acids, or potassium

Abstract

A nutritional deficiency of fatty acids in young rats resulted in a marked elevation of the steady-state serum level of an injected dose of [alpha]-aminoisobutyric acid, and in a decrease in the transport of this model amino acid into skeletal muscle, heart, and intestine. The liver level was greatly increased. Adrenalectomy of the deficient rats reduced the uptake in both liver and kidney. These changes were similar to those reported earlier for rats deficient in vitamin B6. No consistent pattern of change in distribution of the model amino acid was found in rats deficient in thiamine, pantothenate, or potassium. The extremely high liver levels of the amino acid seen in thiamine-deficient rats could be returned toward normal by removing the adrenal glands. All of the changes found in the K+-deficient animals were brought essentially to normal by bilateral adrenalectomy. No consistent relationship was found between the uptake of the amino acid and the K+ level in the heart or skeletal muscle of the rats in the control, K+-deficient, and the K+-deficient adrenalectomized groups.