UREA SYNTHESIS FROM AMINO ACIDS DURING HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK IN THE NEPHRECTOMIZED RAT

Abstract

The effect of hemorrhage on the rates of urea formation from an intraven. injected amino acid mixture has been studied in nephrectomized rats. Fatal hemorrhage with elevated blood levels of amino N consistently was associated with a decreased rate of urea formation from injected amino acids. There was a highly significant negative correlation between the levels of blood amino N and the amts. of urea formed from infused amino acids during shock. Non-fatal hemorrhage with no change in blood amino N was associated with an increased production of urea. This is interpreted as due to the conversion to urea by a still normal liver of the products of protein metabolism from the peripheral tissues, in addition to the infused amino acids. The view is presented that the decreased rate of urea formation in shock is not simply the result of a decreased clearance of amino acids through the liver, but represents a true metabolic defect in this organ. Biochemical distinctions between hemorrhage from which spontaneous recovery is possible and hemorrhagic shock are considered.