1. For the first time utilization of intravenously administered l-alanyl-l-glutamine and glycyl-l-tyrosine was investigated by means of their kinetic behaviour after bolus injection in 10 and 11 apparently healthy male subjects (age 26.6 ± 5.7 years), respectively.
2. The injection of the synthetic dipeptides was not accompanied by any side effects or complaints.
3. The synthetic dipeptides l-alanyl-l-glutamine and glycyl-l-tyrosine were rapidly cleared from plasma. By applying a monoexponential model the elimination half-lives were found to have very similar values (3.8 ± 0.5 and 3.4 ± 0.3 min) whether alanine or glycine was occupying the N-terminal position. The estimated volume of distribution was approximately that of the extracellular space.
4. Peptide disappearance was accompanied by a prompt equimolar increase in the concentrations of the constituent amino acids alanine and glutamine as well as glycine and tyrosine.
5. The study provides firm evidence that l-alanyl-l-glutamine and glycyl-l-tyrosine are rapidly (quantitatively) hydrolysed. The results of this study may indicate a safe and efficient parenteral use of the investigated peptides as sources of free glutamine and free tyrosine.
