An anabolic state in the heart induced by arginine intubation

Using rat heart perfusion, we found that an anabolic state can be induced with a medium which includes glucose, carnitine, branched-chain amino acids and arginine after arginine intubation at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight. It showed diminished levels of glutamine, glutamate, branched-chain oxoacids and phenylalanine (a marker of heart protein metabolism) release, reflecting anabolic changes occurring in the myocardium. While ornithine intubation caused a catabolic state in which the release of alanine and glutamate was increased but phenylalanine release was unchanged. This anabolic state may be a useful model providing for myocardial protection.