Abstract
We wish to submit evidence that histidine and phenylalanine (both natural and synthetic forms) may under certain conditions exert a definite influence upon the regeneration of red cells and hemoglobin in standardized dogs made anemic by blood withdrawal. We have been accumulating experimental data relating to the influence of various amino acids by mouth upon hemoglobin production and hope to publish a report in the near future.
Many of the dogs used had been under observation for more than 6 to 8 years continuously anemic and carefully standardized with liver, iron and other food factors. In these dogs upon the experimental regimen recently described 1 fluctuation of 10 gm. hemoglobin production per 2-week period may come within physiological limits but fluctuations of 20 gm. hemoglobin or over have significance. It will be noted in Tables I and II that an increase in hemoglobin output above the basal control levels associated with amino acid feeding may amount to 25-50 gm. hemoglobin per 2-week period. The standard salmon bread1 was fed during all these diet periods and the amino acid added to the first portion of this diet to insure its prompt total consumption. Pure crystalline amino acids were used in these experiments.
It has been believed by chemists and physiologists that the natural forms of the amino acids are much more active in protein metabolism than the optical isomers or the synthetic dl forms. The evidence relating to hemoglobin production (internal protein synthesis) indicates that in an emergency (anemia) the dog can use all forms of certain amino acids to increase the hemoglobin production.
Histidine (the natural or 1 form) obviously has an effect when given in one gm. doses per day for a 2-week period. The increase in hemoglobin production due to this amino acid (Table I) approximates ⅓ the increase due to liver feeding in control periods. A single experiment with histidine (the optical isomer or d form)
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