Animal variation in alanine uptake by rabbit ileal mucosa

Alanine uptake by rabbit ileal mucosa has been measured in the presence and absence of Na+ to establish the characteristics of biological variation. Common Km values, calculated for two systems of alanine entry, were used for estimation of two Jmax values for individual rabbits. The distribution of Jmax1 and Jmax2 within the population was normal and there was minimal interaction between these two parameters, judged by a cross-correlation analysis. Ways of processing data to account for this type of animal variation are discussed.