Uric Acid Metabolism in Dalmatians and Other Dogs

Abstract

Allogeneic transplantation of the liver between Dalmatian and mongrel dogs revealed its effects on uric acid metabolism. In the presence of satisfactory hepatic function, when a liver was transplanted between mongrels, daily urinary excretion of uric acid remained low, and when a liver was transplanted between Dalmatians, the excretion remained high. More important, when mongrel dogs received Dalmatian livers, or vice versa, the recipient took on the uric acid excretion pattern of the donor, which indicates that the liver determines the difference in uric acid metabolism between mongrels and Dalmatians. The significance of this finding is discussed in relation to possible differences in transport of uric acid across cell membranes or uricase content of the hepatic cells. This study has demonstrated that liver allografts retain their metabolic specificity after transfer to a new host.