The relationship between nutritive value of dietary protein and activity of liver arginae and kidney transamidinase enzymes

Plasma amino acids concentration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients

Previous investigations showed an impairment of amino acids (AA) metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It was hypothesized that excitatory AA may play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of this disease. The aim of the study was to determine plasma AA concentrations in ALS patients, and to examine the relationship between AA and the clinical state of ALS patients, the type of ALS onset and the duration of the disease. The study involved 20 ALS patients and 30 control group people. The AA analysis was performed by ion - exchange chromatography on an automatic AA analyser. The results showed significantly decreased concentrations of valine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine and aspartate in the plasma of the whole group of ALS patients compared to the control group, and a significantly decreased concentration of arginine in the patients with a long duration of ALS compared to the patients with a short duration. The clinical state of ALS patients significantly influenced only plasma alanine concentration. Other plasma AA concentrations were not significantly associated with clinical parameters of the disease. Our study confirms that metabolic abnormalities concerning AA exist in ALS patients. However, the normal plasma glutamate concentration observed in this study in the whole group of ALS patients compared to the controls does not exclude that this excitatory AA may play a role in neurodegeneration in ALS.

Influence of black gram (Vigna mungo) trypsin inhibitory fraction on the hepatic protein catabolism in male albino mice

The effect of black gram and black gram trypsin inhibitor on the protein catabolism of male albino mice has been investigated. Group 1 was given autoclaved black gram (control), Group II raw black gram and Group III the autoclaved black gram incorporated with 1% black gram trypsin inhibitor. Blood as well as urinary urea and creatine were found to be elevated in Groups II and III. Increased levels of arginase, ornithine transcarbamylase and transaminases were noted in Groups II and III. The results suggested an enhanced catabolism of proteins evoked by the native black gram trypsin inhibitor.