Abnormal amino acid concentrations in plasma and urine of experimentally diabetic dogs

Free amino acid concentrations have been determined in plasma and urine of nonketotic, severely diabetic dogs and age-matched normal controls. Plasma from fasted (as well as fed) diabetics contained supranormal concentrations of several amino acids, including the branched-chain amino acids. In contrast to other species, however, the concentration of only one plasma amino acid (tryptophan) was subnormal in fasted diabetic dogs. Urine collected at the same time showed that the excretion of most amino acids was not abnormal in diabetes. Urinary concentrations of some amino acids were not abnormal despite supranormal levels in plasma. Nevertheless, eight of the 21 amino acids studied reached concentrations significantly greater than normal in the urine of diabetic dogs. Six of the eight amino acids (arginine, histidine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, glutamic acid) showed elevated concentrations in urine even though their plasma concentrations were not elevated. The observed disturbance in the urine/plasma ratio of certain amino acids suggests a possible defect in the renal handling of amino acids in diabetes.