ArticleSoutter AM, Huggins AK.
Comp Biochem Physiol B. 1977;58(1):57-61.
1. The levels of the individual free amino acids, K, Na and water present in parietal muscle were measured in fish starved for periods of 3-115 days. 2. The Na and water content progressively increased relative to dry weight of tissue during the starvation period whereas an initial increase in the K content up to 67 days was followed by a decrease to near the normal fed level by 115 days. The ammonia content remained essentially stable over the same period. 3. The essential free amino acid content tended to follow the muscle sodium pattern while the non-essential amino acids and taurine gave results somewhat similar to those of potassium. 4. The net result of these changes is that the Na, K and total free amino acid concentration is maintained within fairly narrow limits relative to the tissue water content during 11-67 days of the starvation period under the experimental conditions used.