[Effect of arginine administration on disturbances of hepatic glutamine metabolism during acute ammonia intoxication in the rat].

The present study is concerned with the effects of L-arginine hydrochloride administration on the disturbances of liver glutamine metabolism following acute ammonia intoxication in the rat. Our results show that arginine administration does not suppress the decrease in the hepatic glutamine level and the marked activation of liver glutaminase I induced by ammonia. These alterations do not therefore appear to be related to the limitation of ammonia detoxication through the urea cycle.