Plasma levels of amino acids in human, pigs and rats and their changes during liver transplantation in the pig.

Abstract

1. Plasma levels of individual amino acids in pigs are closer to those in humans than to those in rats. 2. During the liver transplant operation in the pig, in the unhepatic phase there is a rapid rise in plasma, alanine and ornithine levels and a decrease in glutamate, aspartate and arginine. 3. After liver transplant there is an increase in most amino acids which is most striking in alanine, lysine and ornithine while plasma levels of arginine remained undetectable. 4. These findings demonstrate the role of the liver as the main receptor of most amino acids released from muscle protein. 5. Although the method used is valid as an experimental model for liver transplant in humans, the preservation of the liver must be modified to avoid the intense proteolytic activity which contributes to the plasma amino acid changes observed after transplant.