In order to investigate the renal effects of amino acids (AA) with dif
ferent metabolic fate, we compared the changes in glomerular and tubul
ar function, nitrogen metabolism and glucoregulatory hormones in 7 vol
unteers during two infusions, one of a complete solution of amino acid
s (MIX-AA), which included five AA electively metabolized at the splan
chnic level, and the other of a solution containing only essential AA
(EAA), which escape splanchnic metabolism. MIX-AA increased GFR and RP
F (from 104 +/- 6 to 122 +/- 13 and from 488 +/- 46 to 572 +/- 34 ml/m
in/1.73 m(2)), stimulated splanchnic metabolism as demonstrated by ris
es in urinary urea excretion (from 20.7 +/- 2 to 30.6 +/- 7.5 mg/min/1
.73 m(2)) and the plasma glucagon/insulin ratio (from 21.4 +/- 13 to 2
6.7 +/- 15), and caused increases in fractional excretion of AA, FeNa
and free-water clearance. During MIX-AA infusion significant correlati
ons were observed between the individual values of GFR and the urea ex
cretion rate (r = 0.66), and between GFR modifications (Delta GFR) and
the plasma glucagon/plasma insulin ratio (r = 0.40). No change in ren
al function, urea excretion and the glucagon/insulin ratio was observe
d with EAA. An intermediate splanchnic step (increased plasma glucagon
/insulin ratio and ureagenesis) seems necessary in the pathway leading
to the nonessential AA-induced rise in GFR; this might stimulate an u
ltimate intrarenal pathway (possibly involving the diluting segment) v
ia a still undefined mechanism.