Free amino acids in human tonsillar tissue.

Free amino acids in the tonsils of 20 individuals were measured column chromatographically. Those always found in readily detectable amounts included O-phosphoserine, taurine, O-phosphoethanolamine, aspartic acid, hydroxyproline, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, alanine, alpha-amino-n-butyric acid, valine, cystine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, ornithine, gamma-amino-butyric acid, lysine, histidine, and arginine. Results were compared for three clinical pathological groups and for four age groups. Some abnormal values may result from the pathological conditions.