Abstract
Summary
A “generalized” aminoaciduria occurs in lead-intoxicated rats characterized by a 1- to 3-fold elevation in renal clearances of most amino acids. The increase in histidine clearance is exceptionally large, whereas, changes in glycine and valine clearances are slight. Tyrosine clearance is actually decreased.
Plasma glycine is greatly increased; lesser increases in plasma threonine and lysine were found. Plasma levels of other amino acids were the same or less than those of control rats.
The increase in renal clearances of amino acids is thought to result from impaired renal tubular reabsorption secondary to an effect of lead on the metabolism of proximal renal tubular lining cells. Hyperglycinemia may be prerenal reflecting the defect in prophyrin synthesis known to occur in lead poisoning. It is also suggested that the formation of metal-amino acid complexes may contribute to the excessive aminoaciduria.
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