336 E. ROBERTS AND D. G. SIMONSEN 
appeared to be an increase in glutamic acid content. Upon starvation there were 
decreases in glycine, serine and taurine contents and increases in glutamic and aspar- 
tic acids. Without more extensive data the decrease in taurine cannot be considered 
to be significant, since in our experience inexplicable variations often occur in taurine 
levels from the liver of one rat to another. The only changes observed in the muscle 
were slight decreases in glutamine, glycine and serine contents in both starved and 
dehydrated animals (Figs. 297-302). In another study with older rats (300-350 g) 
it was found that prolonged (6 days) starvation did not alter the pattern of free 
amino acids significantly either in heart (Figs. 303, 304) or in skeletal muscle (Figs. 
305, 300). It has been reported that the taurine content of rat heart remains constant 
in starvation or when the animals are fed a protein-free diet®’. 
When one considers the magnitude of the biochemical and physiological changes 
which occur in the organism as a whole and at the tissue level during starvation and 
286 


i 
Fas —_ 
Figs. 285-290. Effect of dehydration and inanition on free amino acids of kidney (75 mg). Fig. 285: 
control. Figs. 286, 288, 290: dehydrated for 24, 48 and 68h, respectively. Figs. 287, 289: starved 
for 24 and 48h, respectively. Glycerylphosphorylethanolamine and/or f-alanine, 12; glutamic acid, 
17; aspartic acid, 18; cystine (cysteic acid), 20. 
References p. 348/349 
