This study set out to measure the
amino acid concentrations in the femoral artery, femoral vein, hepatic vein, muscular and hepatic tissue, and urine of a patient with the
glucagonoma syndrome. The total plasma
amino acid concentration was severely reduced on admission (737 mumol/L, 26% of normal), with only a slight increase during
intravenous administration of 200 g of
amino acids per day. The total intracellular
amino acid levels in the muscle were 86%, and those of the liver were 47% of the normal range. Only 0.62% of the
amino acids administered were found in the urine. Arteriovenous
amino acid concentration differences across the muscle and splanchnic tissue indicated the release of
amino acids (mainly
glutamine,
glycine, and
alanine) from the muscle and the absorption of
amino acids by the splanchnic bed. This study shows that the infusion of a high amount of
amino acids cannot increase the subnormal plasma AA levels of patients with the
glucagonoma syndrome. The low total plasma AA levels are paralleled by decreased intracellular free
amino acid levels in the muscle and liver.