Effects of glucose on alanine-derived urea synthesis

The effect of glucose on alanine-stimulated urea synthesis was studied in six healthy volunteers during 6 h of constant alanine infusion, 2.8 mmol h-1 kg-1 b. wht., and during 12 h of constant glucose infusion, 4.0 mmol h-1 kg-1 b. wht., with superimposed alanine infusion. The urea nitrogen synthesis rate (UNSR) was determined at intervals of 2 h as urinary excretion rate corrected for accumulation and intestinal hydrolysis. UNSR depended on the blood alanine and glucagon concentration, but was not correlated with glucose, lactate, or insulin concentrations. The slope of the linear relation between UNSR and alanine concentration (the 'Functional Hepatic Nitrogen Clearance') was on the average 24.4 1 h-1 and decreased to 12.8 1 h-1 by glucose (mean difference +/- SE of the difference 10.6 +/- 7.3, P less than 0.01). The relation between glucagon and alanine concentration was linear, and the slope was decreased to 40 per cent by glucose (P less than 0.05). The slope of the linear relation between UNSR and glucagon was not changed by glucose. Thus the catabolism of alanine nitrogen is decreased by glucose because of a reduction of the urea synthesis. Data suggest that this may be due to a depression of the glucagon response to alanine.