Alanine aminotransferase activity in mammary tissue, muscle and liver of dam rat during lactation and weaning.

Transamination reaction is the first step in the catabolism of most of the L-amino acids. Alanine is an important molecule in the inter-organ nitrogen transport, conveying them from muscle to the liver. Amino groups from this amino acid are generally first transferred to alpha-ketoglutarate in the cytosol of liver cells to form glutamate and leaving behind the corresponding alpha-keto acid analog. Measurements of the alanine aminotransferase (EC2.6.1.2.) activity were compared in liver, mammary gland and skeletal muscle in virgin, lactating and weaning dam rats. In this study liver was the principal tissue involved in alanine transamination, while muscle showed a reduction in the enzyme activity during lactation. Results indicate an increase in alanine amino-transferase activity in the mammary gland during lactation and weaning when compared with virgin rats. This suggests that mammary gland during lactation is an important extra-hepatic tissue involved in the metabolism of alanine and probably shunted into the pathways for amino group metabolism in terms of nitrogen economy.