Free amino acids in plasma during experimental infection of mice with the MHV-3 strain of mouse hepatitis virus.

The concentrations of total free amino acids, single free amino acids, urea, and ammonia were determined in plasma of mice during experimental infection with the MHV-3 strain of mouse hepatitis virus. Analysis of free amino acids was done by ion-exchange resin chromatography under conditions that allowed the use of a single chromatographic column, separation of glutamine and asparagine, and an accelerated rate of chromatography. The results showed that as early as 6 hr after infection there was a decrease in the concentration of several free amino acids as well as in the total concentration of free amino acids in plasma. For most of the amino acids the decrease persisted until 48 hr. Only at 72 hr, during severe cytolysis, did the concentration of amino acids increase significantly. It is suggested that the decrease during the initial phases of the infection may be due to a thermolabile factor that is produced by circulating leukocytes and that effects a flow of free amino acids from the plasma toward the liver. The final increase in concentration of several free amino acids reflects the cytolytic damage to the liver caused by the virus.