THE KIDNEY AND NITROGEN METABOLISM

Abstract

Dogs with kidney function reduced to 17 to 24% of normal remained in good health and maintained their wt. for many months pn kennel food despite a constant elevation in blood nonprotein N. Replacement of kennel food by a diet rich in meat or protein for 2-6 days resulted in 30-55% urea.N formation below the N intake. This deficiency in urea formation was still more marked, 50-76% of the N intake, in nephrectomized dogs on protein-rich diet. Marked signs of toxicity followed ingestion of the high protein diet in nephrectomized animals and those with reduced renal function. Intrajejunal admn. of amigen in normal dogs, in amts. corresponding to a high protein diet, was followed by transient mild toxic symptoms; the same procedure resulted in significant reduction in the survival time of nephrectomized animals. When glycine replaced intrajejunal admn. of amigen differences in the response of normal and nephrectomized animals were even more pronounced.