L-alanine uptake by rat liver parenchymal and haematopoietic cells during the perinatal period

Alanine disposal by liver parenchymal and haematopoietic cells from 21-day fetuses, newborns and adult rats was studied. Preparations selectively enriched in either haematopoietic cells or hepatocytes were obtained by direct perfusion of fetal- and neonatal-rat livers. L-Alanine transport into liver...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemical journal 1993-08, Vol.293 (3), p.819-824
Main Authors: MARTINEZ-MAS, J. V, CASADO, J, FELIPE, A, MARIN, J. J. G, PASTOR-ANGLADA, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alanine - metabolism
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Biological Transport
Bone Marrow - embryology
Bone Marrow - metabolism
Bone Marrow Cells
Cell physiology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Liver - cytology
Liver - embryology
Liver - metabolism
Membrane and intracellular transports
Molecular and cellular biology
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Sodium - metabolism
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Summary:Alanine disposal by liver parenchymal and haematopoietic cells from 21-day fetuses, newborns and adult rats was studied. Preparations selectively enriched in either haematopoietic cells or hepatocytes were obtained by direct perfusion of fetal- and neonatal-rat livers. L-Alanine transport into liver parenchymal cells was best fitted to two Na(+)-dependent saturable systems. The high-affinity system showed a much higher activity (Vmax.) in hepatocytes from fetuses and newborns than in those from adult rats (2.4, 4.3 and 0.3 nmol/8 min per 10(6) cells for fetuses, newborns and adults respectively). Vmax. for the low-affinity component was slightly lower during the perinatal period than in the adult (about 30 nmol/8 min per 10(6) cells for hepatocytes from fetuses and newborns, versus 48 nmol/8 min per 10(6) cells for adult rat parenchymal cells). Haematopoietic cells from fetal-rat livers showed significant Na(+)-dependent L-alanine uptake which was completely abolished after birth. These results show that the transport systems involved in L-alanine uptake by liver parenchymal cells are fully developed before birth. This probably contributes to fulfilling the high requirement for neutral amino acids for protein synthesis during development. Haematopoietic cells may play an important role in liver amino acid metabolism during fetal life.
ISSN:0264-6021
1470-8728
DOI:10.1042/bj2930819