Ammonia absorption from the rumen to the systemic circulation with urea poisoning in goats
Itabisashi, T.
National Institute of Animal Health Quarterly 16(4): 176-182
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0027-951X PMID: 1016396 Document Number: 97760
The hepatic, jugular and an intestinal vein and the thoracic duct of separate female Saanen goats, weighing 20-42 kg, were cannulated. The animals were given 0.5-1.5 g/kg urea by stomach tube at weekly intervals. Lassitude was followed by tetanic convulsions and death. Analysis of blood samples showed that ammonia leaked from the hepatic vein, indicating that the liver was overloaded with ammonia when its concentration in the jugular vein increased after drenching. The increase in ammonia concentration in the thoracic duct, intestinal vein and peritoneal fluid only reflected the increase in the systemic circulation. The view of Chalmers et al. (1971, Proc. Nutr. Soc. 30, 7-17) that an absorption route of ammonia exists from the rumen to the systemic circulation, exclusive of the portal-hepatic-posterior vena cava route, in goats with urea poisoning is not supported by this study.