Involvement of γ-glutamyltransferase in amino-acid uptake by the lactating mammary gland of the rat

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Abstract
Arteriovenous differences of amino acids across the lactating mammary gland were measured in normal rats and in rats injected with serine-borate (an inhibitor of .gamma.-glutamyltransferase). Comparison of the arteriovenous differences show that .gamma.-glutamyltransferase is involved in amino-acid uptake by the gland. Reduced-glutathione content of isolated acini incubated with high concentrations of amino acids was lower than that of the controls. High concentrations of amino acids had no effect on reduced-glutathione content of isolated acini when serine-borate was added to the incubation medium. The findings provide evidence for the functioning of the .gamma.-glutamyl cycle in the lactating mammary gland in vivo.