Effect of specific amino acid groups on renal hemodynamics in humans

The effect of specific amino acid groups on renal hemodynamics was examined in seven healthy young volunteers. Each subject received a 3-h intravenous infusion according to one of the following protocols: study 1, gluconeogenic amino acids (Arg, Gly, Pro, Cys, Met, Ser); study 2, alanine alone; study 3, branched-chain amino acids (BCAA, Leu, Ile, Val); or study 4, 0.9% saline. The rise (40-60% above base line) in total plasma amino acid concentration was similar in studies 1-3; no change was observed in study 4. During study 1, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) rose by 16% (from 98 ± 6 to 114 ± 8 ml · 1.73 m^-2 · min^-1, P < 0.01), and renal plasma flow (RPF) rose by 28% (from 496 ± 47 to 638 ± 70 ml · 1.73 m^-2 · min^-1, P < 0.01). After alanine (study 2) and BCAA (study 3) infusion, there was a slight, although not significant, rise in GFR and RPF; during saline infusion (study 4), GFR and RPF remained unchanged. Plasma insulin and growth hormone did not change significantly in any study protocol. Plasma glucagon rose significantly by 30% in study 1 (from 117 ± 10 to 151 ± 13 pg/ml, P < 0.05) but did not change in studies 2-4. In summary, infusion of mixed gluconeogenic amino acids increases both GFR and RPF, and neither alanine nor BCAA infusion caused a consistent alteration in renal hemodynamics.