Portal venous infusions of L-glutamine in anaesthetized dogs do not influence renal function.

It has been reported that the intraportal infusion of glutamine in Munich-Wistar rats will cause depression of renal perfusion and the urinary excretion of salt and water. We have attempted to reproduce these findings in anaesthetized dogs. L-Glutamine was infused at doses between 120 and 150 mumol/min into the portal vein and femoral vein of anaesthetized dogs. No effect was observed on portal venous pressure, blood pressure, or kidney function. Similar data were obtained with D-glutamine. Liver biopsy revealed no abnormalities. When 1.5-3 micrograms histamine (free base) was infused into the portal system, portal venous pressure rose from 15.2 +/- 0.33 to 24.8 +/- 0.40 cmH2O (p < 0.05) (1 cmH2O = 98.1 Pa). Glutamine infusions do not appear to initiate hepatorenal reflexes in dogs as they have been reported to do in rats.