RT Journal A1 Vary TC, Siegel JH, Placko R, Tall BD, Morris J T1 EFfect of dichloroacetate on plasma and hepatic amino acids in sterile inflammation and sepsis JF Archives of Surgery JO Archives of Surgery YR 1989 FD September 1 VO 124 IS 9 SP 1071 OP 1077 DO 10.1001/archsurg.1989.01410090081018 UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.1989.01410090081018 AB • The effect of sterile inflammation and chronic sepsis on the plasma and hepatic free amino acid concentrations was determined. Relative to control animals, only minor alterations in the plasma amino acid concentrations were observed in sterile inflammation and sepsis. In liver, concentrations of alanine, serine, threonine, asparagine, proline, and glycine were significantly increased to the same extent in sterile inflammation and sepsis, while hepatic glutamine concentrations were significantly decreased. Compared with sterile inflammation, the branched-chain amino acid concentrations were depressed in the liver of septic animals. Following administration of dichloroacetate, hepatic alanine concentrations were significantly reduced more than threefold in each of the conditions examined; in contrast, significant increases in hepatic concentrations of threonine, glycine, glutamine, glutamate, histidine, and proline were observed. Also following administration of dichloroacetate, the branched-chain amino acid concentrations were all significantly elevated in each of the conditions examined, and plasma alanine concentrations were significantly decreased, while those of glutamine and glycine were significantly increased. These results demonstrate that there is a disassociation between the plasma and hepatic concentration of free amino acids in sterile inflammation and sepsis. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that some of the alterations in hepatic amino acid metabolism may be reversed pharmacologically by dichloroacetate.(Arch Surg. 1989;124:1071-1077)