The use of optical emission spectroscopy for human 15N tracer studies

✍ Scribed by T.P. Stein; M.J. Leskiw; E.M. Liquori; H.B. Brooks; H.W. Wallace; W.S. Blakemore

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1975
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 445 KB
• Volume: 66
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-2697
• DOI: 10.1016/0003-2697(75)90615-6

✦ Synopsis

Optical emission spectroscopy is a convenient method for determing r5N specific activity in a variety of metabolites following the administration of an r5Nlabeled amino acid to humans. The only disadvantage, compared to the more conventional isotope ratio mass spectrometer analytical system is that more tracer is needed to give accurate results. When an 15N-labeled amino acid is used as the 15N carrier, the amount of r5N is not above a tracer dose. A suitable procedure is described for performing such studies using [r5N]gIycine as a tracer. As an experimental example, [rSN]glycine was infused into a subject at a rate of 35 mg of N/hr for 8 hr. After 3 hr a meal was consumed by the subject. The urinary urea-r5N1 ammonia-r5N and amino acid-r5N profiles were determined.