MOBILIZATION OF GLUTAMINE AND ASPARAGINE IN MOUSE KIDNEY DURING EHRLICH CELL-CARCINOMA DEVELOPMENT

Glutamine, glutamate, asparagine, and aspartate contents in mouse kidn ey during Ehrlich ascites carcinoma development were determined. Signi ficant changes in the concentrations of these amino acids were observe d only 24 h after tumour inoculation, and they were highest during the exponential phase of tumour growth. These data agree with other previ ously reported studies and point to a potential of tumour cells to mod ulate host metabolism for its benefit. Discussed under this hypothesis , the new data reported here seem to indicate that there is an increas e in the mobilization of the amino acids studied in mice kidney to pro vide Ehrlich tumour cells with sources of nitrogen (asparagine and glu tamine) which they consume avidly.