Hormonal control of renal and systemic glutamine metabolism

Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid in the human body. Recent st udies indicate that it may be an important vehicle for interorgan nitrogen and carbon transport. However, relatively little is known about hormonal fa ctors regulating its metabolism in humans. We review here our recent work o n the effects of insulin, glucagon and epinephrine on plasma glutamine kine tics and its conversion to glucose by liver and kidney.