Effect of intestinal gamma-glutamyl transferase inhibitor on the amount of gamma-glutamyl metabolites in mouse.

Experimental mice fed a balanced rodent chow, called LSM fodder, had markedly lower gamma-glutamyl transferase activity in the epithelium of intestinal villi then control mice fed wheat. After oral administration of gamma-14C-glutamyglycine, oxidized 14C-glutathione or gamma-glutamyl-p-amino-benzoate the amounts of gamma-glutamyl substrates and their metabolites in intestines, livers and kidneys of experimental mice were significantly lower than those in control mice. L-serine simultaneously administered with gamma-14C-glutamylglycine reduced the radioactivity of gamma-glutamyl substances in organs of the control mice. No differences in organ radioactivity of experimental and control mice were observed when some uniformly labeled with 14C amino acids were given. The obtained results are not in aggreement with hypothesis on a role of gamma-glutamyl transferase in amino acid transport.