Mouse liver free amino acids during the development of Ehrlich ascites tumour.

Sequential amino acid concentrations were determined in the liver of mice infested with a highly malignant strain of Ehrlich ascites tumour cells. The liver concentrations of a certain group of amino acids showed changes consistent with those previously reported for plasma, ascitic liquid and tumour cells during tumour growth. Shortly after tumour transplantation a significant decrease of the essential amino acids methionine, threonine, valine, isoleucine + phenylalanine, leucine, lysine and histidine, was detected. Some non-essential amino acids, mainly the gluconeogenic substrates alanine and serine, showed a strong reduction in hepatic concentrations during the first days; these amino acids remained significantly lower than controls until animal death. Interestingly, hepatic glutamine increased at days 1 and 2 after inoculation, and proline showed a sustained increase from the seventh day onwards, reaching a value double the control at the end of animal life.