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Intestinal and hepatic nitrogen balance in the rat after the administration of an oral protein load

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

José Antonio Fernández-López ,
Javier Casado ,
Montserrat Esteve ,
Immaculada Rafecas ,
Josep Maria Argilés ,
Xavier Remesar  and
Maria Alemany
José Antonio Fernández-López
Affiliation:
Departament de Bioquimica i Fisiologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Javier Casado
Affiliation:
Departament de Bioquimica i Fisiologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Montserrat Esteve
Affiliation:
Departament de Bioquimica i Fisiologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Immaculada Rafecas
Affiliation:
Departament de Bioquimica i Fisiologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Josep Maria Argilés
Affiliation:
Departament de Bioquimica i Fisiologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Xavier Remesar
Affiliation:
Departament de Bioquimica i Fisiologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Maria Alemany
Affiliation:
Departament de Bioquimica i Fisiologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Abstract

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The fate of a small oral dose of protein given to overnight-starved rats was studied. After 3 h, 62 % of the protein amino acids had been absorbed. Most of the absorbed N went into the bloodstream through the portal in the form of amino acids, but urea and ammonia were also present. About one-quarter of all absorbed N was carried as lymph amino acids. The liver was able to take all portal free ammonia and a large proportion of portal amino acids, releasing urea. The hepatic N balance was negative, indicating active proteolysis and net loss of liver protein.

Keywords

LiverIntestineProtein loadN balanceRat

Information

Type
Nitrogen Metabolism
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 69 , Issue 3 , May 1993 , pp. 733 - 742
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1993

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