METABOLISM OF PROTEIN, AMINO ACIDS AND AMMONIA

The relation of potassium deficiency to metabolism of ammonia and amino acids is the subject of the following current research. A dog preparation involving induction of potassium deficiency by dialysis is now being used to extend our clinical studies on the relation of potassium and ammonium metabolism in kidney. The relation of potassium deficiency to alterations in amino acid composition of tissues is being studied in groups of rats. Significant increases of threonine, serine, glycine, alanine, lysine and arginine occur in muscle of electrolyte-depleted animals. The significance and mechanisms of this change in amino acid pattern are being investigated. A study on the effects of urea and ammonium chloride infusions on gastric ammonium concentration and on secretory responses to histalog indicate that blood ammonium is a significant source of gastric ammonium, possibly more so than blood urea. Results were similar in neomycin-treated and in non-antibiotic-treated patients. Gastric secretory responses were not altered by elevations of blood or gastric juice urea or ammonium levels, or by pre-treatment with neomycin. Ammonium had no evident neutralizing action on normal human gastric juice.