N-DELTA-ACETYLORNITHINE AND S-METHYLCYSTEINE IN BLOOD-PLASMA

N.delta.-Acetylornithine and S-methylcysteine were identified as minor components of deproteinized blood plasma of human and bovine blood. Human blood plasma contained a variable amount of acetylornithine, averaging 1.1 .+-. 0.4 .mu.M/l (range 0.8-0.2 .mu.M/l). Urine contained a very small amount of acetylornithine, approximately 1 nmol/mg creatinine (1 .mu.mol/day). Human blood plasma contained 3.9 .+-. 1.9 .mu.mol/1 (range 1.4-6.5 .mu.mol/1) of S-methylcysteine. Urine contained approximately 5 nmol/mg creatinine; after acid hydrolysis the amount was increased to 20 nmol/mg creatinine.