Amino acid release from the hindquarter and urea appearance in acute uremia

Hepatic urea production is increased in acutely uremic rats, but it is not known whether this is related to release of nitrogen from nonhepatic tissues. Rats with acute uremia had lower arterial concentrations of alanine, glutamine, and alpha-amino nitrogen when compared to sham-operated rats and released significantly more alpha-amino nitrogen from the hindquarter in situ. Release of alpha-amino nitrogen, alanine, and glutamine from the perfused hindquarter of acutely uremic rats was greater than that of sham-operated rats. These changes in situ and in the perfused hindquarter were more pronounced in rats deprived of food and water compared to fed animals and were not due to depletion of intracellular amino acids. In addition to increased amino acid nitrogen release, there was a higher urea appearance rate (excretion plus accumulation) in starved, uremic rats compared to sham-operated controls (244.7 +/- 11.2 vs. 182.0 +/- 12.4 mg. 100 g-1 .48 h-1); urea appearance also was suppressed partially by feeding. Both peripheral release of amino acids and diet influence waste nitrogen production in acute uremia.