Cirrhosis and the synthesis of proline and glycine in rat liver.

The relation between availability of free amino acids and development of cirrhosis in rat liver has been experimentally evaluated. Levels of free glycine and proline were found to increase when animals are treated with phenobarbital and carbon tetrachloride. This increase is concomitant with increase in collagen and loss of activity of enzymes responsible for degradation of amino acids. It is concluded that elevated levels of proline observed in the serum of cirrhotic patients may be a consequence, rather than a cause, of collagen accumulation in the liver.