Effect of protein deprivation on ammonia metabolism in the rat
Schlienger, J.L.; Imler, M.
Comptes Rendus des Seances de la Societe de Biologie et de ses Filiales 172(6): 1232-1236
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-9026 PMID: 159110 Document Number: 134607
Male Wistar rats weighing 230 to 260 g, 8 with streptozotocin-induced diabetes, 8 with a colectomy and 16 intact controls, were given a normal diet with 21% protein then sucrose only for 5 days and, after an interval of 10 days, were starved for 5 days. Glucose, ammonia, glutamine and urea were estimated after each period. Glucose increased significantly after sucrose and decreased after starvation of all groups. Differences were greatest in diabetic rats. Ammonia, glutamine and urea were similar in all groups after the normal diet. With sucrose NH3 increased in the nondiabetic groups only, glutamine increased significantly in controls and slightly in the others and urea decreased significantly in controls and colectomized rats and slightly in diabetic rats. During starvation NH3 was normal in all groups, glutamine increased slightly in all groups and urea increased significantly in diabetic rats and was normal in the others. When 8 normal rats were given ammonium acetate 125 mg/kg by vein hyperammonaemia developed more slowly with sucrose than with the normal diet.