Tryptophan metabolism in the isolated perfused liver of the rat: effects of tryptophan concentration, hydrocortisone and allopurinol on tryptophan pyrrolase activity and kynurenine formation.

1 The effect of tryptophan concentration on the rate of kynurenine appearance and tryptophan disappearance in the medium perfused through the isolated liver of the rat has been investigated. The effect of pretreatment of the rat with hydrocortisone or allopurinol was also examined, together with the effects of these treatments on liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity measured in vitro at the beginning and end of perfusion. 2 Hydrocortisone (5 mg/kg) injection 3 h before perfusion resulted in a four-fold increase in kynurenine production by the liver during perfusion with a medium containing either 0.1 mmol/1 or 1.0 mmol/1 tryptophan. Injection of allopurinol (20 mg/kg) together with hydrocortisone and addition of allopurinol (4 mg/100 ml) to the medium abolished the hydrocortisone-induced rise of kynurenine in the 0.1 mmol/tryptophan medium but not the 1.0 mmol/1 tryptophan medium. 3 Injection of cycloheximide (30 mg/kg) with hydrocortisone (5 mg/kg) 3 h before perfusion inhibited the hydrocortisone-induced rise of kynurenine production and the increase in pyrrolase activity measured in vitro both before and at the end of perfusion with 1.0 mmol/1 tryptophan. This last result suggests that protein synthesis is involved not only in hydrocortisone induction of pyrrolase but also in substrate induction. 4 Kynurenine production in the 1.0 mmol/1 tryptophan medium was less in both saline- and hydrocortisone-treated older rats (335-450 g) compared to younger rats (180-220 g). In agreement with a previous study, pyrrolase activity in vitro was also lower in both saline- and hydrocortisone- treated older rats at the beginning of the perfusion although activity had risen equally in both young and older rats at the end of perfusion. 5 There was little correlation between the rate of tryptophan disappearance from the medium and the activity of tryptophan pyrrolase either as measured in vitro or as indicated by the rate of kynurenine production. 6 In general, the production of kynurenine in the medium at the end of the 60 min perfusion was indicative of in vitro pyrrolase activity at the start of the perfusion. 7 It is concluded that while in vitro pyrrolase assay does not give a quantitative index of kynurenne production, it does provide a qualitative index. Furthermore, if kynurenine production in the isolated perfused liver of the rat is indicative of in vivo pyrrolase activity, then hydrocortisone must induce pyrrolase activity in vivo.