p-Chlorophenylalanine-induced chemical manifestations of phenylketonuria in rats.

ABSTRACT

p-Chlorophenylalanine, a potent inhibitor of phenylalanine hydroxylase in vivo, has been used to simulate phenylketonuria in rats. This inhibitor, when administered with phenylalanine, produces marked elevation of blood and tissue phenylalanine without an increase in tyrosine. Disproportionate ratios of phenylalanine to tyrosine are characteristic of phenylketonuria in humans. The use of p-chlorophenylalanine permits the production of this characteristics amino acid imbalance in experimental animals.