Metabolism of [1−14C]glyoxylate, [1−14C]-glycollate, [1−14C]glycine and [2−14C]-glycine by homogenates of kidney and liver tissue from hyperoxaluric and control subjects

Abstract

1. The metabolism of [1−14C]glyoxylate to carbon dioxide, glycine, oxalate, serine, formate and glycollate was investigated in hyperoxaluric and control subjects' kidney and liver tissue in vitro. 2. Only glycine and carbon dioxide became significantly labelled with 14C, and this was less in the hyperoxaluric patients' kidney tissue than in the control tissue. 3. Liver did not show this difference. 4. The metabolism of [1−14C]glycollate was also studied in the liver tissue; glyoxylate formation was demonstrated and the formation of 14CO2 from this substrate was likewise unimpaired in the hyperoxaluric patients' liver tissue in these experiments. 5. Glycine was not metabolized by human kidney, liver or blood cells under the conditions used. 6. These observations show that glyoxylate metabolism by the kidney is impaired in primary hyperoxaluria.