Abstract
Alanine release by rat diaphragm muscle in vitro was stimulated by glutamate, valine, leucine and glucose. The stimulation by glutamate and valine (but not leucine) was inhibited by 3-mercaptopicolinate. A metabolic route involving phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase which directs amino acid carbon skeletons towards pyruvate synthesis for alanine formation is suggested.