Korean variant dogs have red blood cells with high amino acid accumulation

Amino acids, Na, K and glutathione (GSH) in red blood cells (RBCs) and hematological indices were examined in Korean dogs. A total of seven dogs possessing RBCs with high K and high glutathione (GSH)(HK/HG) were found in 42 Korean dogs : three from Cheju dog, two from Jindo dog and two from Korean mongrel. The RBCs in Korean HK/HG dog contained abnormally high aspartate (Asp), Glu and glutamine (Gln) the same as in HK/HG RBCs from Japanese Shiba dog. Two dogs possessing RBCs with HK and low GSH (HK/LG) were found in Cheju dog, and they accumulated Asp and Gln. Thus, not only the existence of HK dog was confirmed in Korean dogs, but HK/LG dog was also found. The Asp concentration in RBCs from seven of 33 LK dogs was more than $1000{\mu}mol/lc$, the same as in variant LK RBCs with defective Glu/Asp transport (LK/GAT), while it was less than $800{\mu}mol/lc$ in normal LK RBCs. Thus, there were variant dogs having RBCs with abnormally high amino acids accumulation among HK and LK Korean dogs.