Interorgan amino acid exchange.

This review is concerned with the status of our current research related to the exchange of amino acids across organs. Accumulation of knowledge regarding how amino acid pools are maintained within the body remains a work in progress. In recent years, the use of organ balance measurement techniques in combination with isotopic tracers has much increased our understanding of the role of the kidney and splanchnic organs in amino acid metabolism, and in kidney and liver gluconeogenesis from amino acids. An interorgan cooperation between the kidney and splanchnic organs for leucine-ketoisocaproate metabolism has also been demonstrated.