The Influence of Increasing Amounts of NH4CI in the Diet on Ammonia Detoxication in Rats

Abstract

Summary The ability of rats to adapt to better detoxication of ammonia when food with ammonium chloride added was continuously available, was examined. The rats were divided into 5 feeding groups. Group I (control group) was given low‐protein food (5 per cent of casein); Groups II to V were given the same food with the addition of 1, 2, 4 and 8 per cent of ammonium chloride, respectively. The period of feeding with respective foods was 7 days. The amount of ammonium chloride in the food was in inverse proportion to its consumption. An increased consumption of non‐protein nitrogen led to an increase in the LD‐50 for a 2.7 per cent solution of NH4Cl, applied intraperitoneally. The greatest tolerance to the ammonium ion was shown by rats given 2 per cent of ammonium chloride in their diet. An increased consumption of non‐protein nitrogen led to increased activity of δ‐ornithine transaminase, ornithine transcarbamylase and arginase in the liver, and an increase in the level of urea in the blood. A decrease in the level of glucose in the blood, of glycogen in the muscles and the liver, and a higher concentration of ATP in the blood were also observed. Zusammenfassung Der Einfluß steigender NH4Cl‐Dosen im Futter auf die Ammoniak‐Detoxikation bei Ratten Bei Ratten, deren Futter ständig Ammonium‐Chlorid zugesetzt wurde, wurde die Fähigkeit der besseren Ammoniak‐Detoxikation geprüft. Die Ratten wurden in 5 Diät‐Gruppen unterteilt: Gruppe I (Kontrolltiere): Futter mit niedrigem Proteingehalt (5% Kasein). Gruppe II bis V erhielten 1, 2, 4 und 8% NH4Cl. Der Fütterungsversuch dauerte 7 Tage. Die Futteraufnahme verhielt sich umgekehrt proportional zum NH4Cl‐Gehalt. Eine verstärkte Aufnahme von Nichtprotein‐Stickstoff erhöhte die LD‐50 bei intraperitonealer Applikation einer 2,7% NH4Cl‐Lösung. Die größte Ammonium‐Toleranz wiesen Ratten auf, deren Futter 2% NH4Cl enthielt. Eine vermehrte Aufnahme von Nichtprotein‐N erhöhte folgende Parameter: α‐Ornithin‐Transa‐minase, Ornithin‐Transcarbamylase, Arginase der Leber, sowie den ATP und Harnstoffspiegel im Blut. Im weiteren wurden eine Senkung des Blutzuckerspiegels, sowie des Muskel‐ und Leberglykogengehaltes festgestellt. Résumé Influence de doses progressives d'NH4Cl dans l'alimentation sur la désintoxication de l'ammoniac chez des rats On a testé la capacité d'une meilleure désintoxication de l'ammoniac chez des rats dont la nourriture était continuellement additionnée d'NH4Cl. Les rats furent répartis en 5 groupes de régime: Groupe I (animaux de contrôle): aliment à faible taux de protéines (5% caséine). Groupes II à V: 1, 2, 4 et 8% NH4Cl. L'essai d'alimentation a duré 7 jours. L'absorption d'aliment fut inversément proportionnelle au taux d'NH4Cl. Une absorption augmenté d'azote non protéique augmenta la LD50 lors d'une application intrapéritonéale d'une solution de 2,7% NH4Cl. Les rats ayant reçu un aliment contenant 2% NH4Cl montrèrent la plus grande tolérance à l'ammonium. Une plus forte absorption d'azote non protéique augmenta les paramètres suivants: δ‐ornithine‐transami...

The Depressant Effect of Ammonium Acetate in the Diet on the Insulin Level in the Plasma of Rats

“…Our experiment demonstrated that rats fed a diet containing ammonium acetate (about 20 O / o of total nitrogen) have a lower plasma IRI level than animals fed the natural diet (11). This effect was similar to the one observed in rats (15) and sheep ( 2 ) during intravenous infusion of ammonium chloride.…”

“…Studies were conducted on 120 Wistar rats divided into two groups, one given a diet containing 15 O/o casein and 3 O/o ammonium acetate (I) and the other a similar diet without ammonium acetate (11). The animals were fed these diets ad libitum for seven days.…”

“…An increase of dietary nitrogen concentration in the form of protein (1, 14) or non-protein nitrogen compounds (NPN) (10,ll) leads after several days to an induction of urea cycle enzymes and other enzymes connected with ammonia detoxication in the liver of experimental animals. It is suggested (10,11) that in the case of NPN diets as well as high protein ones, the organism is loaded with ammonia, in the latter case as a result of intensive amino acid catabolism. SCHLIENGER et al (15) and BAREJ and HARMEYER (2) showed that loading animals with ammonium salts leads to a decrease of immunoreacting insulin (IRI) in the blood.…”

The Protective Effect of Adenosine, Pyruvate and Phosphate during NH4Cl Intoxication in Rats

“…This thesis has been confirmed by KULASEK (21) who observed the accelerated elimination of ammonia from the blood, after the intravenous injection of ATP to rabbits. The author's investigations upon the adaptation of rats to ammonium ion loading have shown that the greatest activity of ornithine transcarbamylase and arginase in the liver, as well as the highest level of 'ATP in the blood, muscles and liver appeared in animals with the greatest toleration to this ion (23). In view of these investigation it is interesting to determine whether an increase of ATP level in the organism can change the toleraticn of rats to the ammonium ion.…”