In human liver cirrhosis (LC), the Fischer ratio (branched-chain amino acid (BCAA)/aromatic amino acid (AAA)) is used as a marker of hepatic encephalopathy. Similarly, the plasma BCAA levels decrease while AAA levels increase in LC rats. However the BCAA and AAA ratio and the influence of exercise on this ratio remains to be clarified in various tissues of the LC rat model. Normal and LC rats received 2-weekly injections of olive oil or CCl(4) for 10 weeks, respectively, and half of the rats from each group were subjected to one time exercise on a treadmill. BCAA, AAA, glutamate (GLU) and glutamine (GLN) concentrations were measured in plasma, liver, brain, heart and skeletal muscles. Decreased BCAA and increased AAA concentrations in brain and heart were also observed in LC rats and these changes were significantly amplified by exercise. The Fischer ratio in the LC group with and without exercise was decreased in skeletal muscles, while it remained unchanged in the liver. Decreased GLU and increased GLN concentrations were shown in most LC samples following exercise. In conclusion, specific alterations of the amino acid patterns were observed in various tissues in the LC group. These alterations were further emphasized by exercise.