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L-2-Oxothiazolidine-4-Carboxylate as a Cysteine Precursor: Efficacy for Growth and Hepatic Glutathione Synthesis in Chicks and Rats¹

Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801

Chick and rat experiments were conducted to determine the efficacy of L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate (OTC) as a cysteine (Cys) precursor for growth and hepatic glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis. Isosulfurous graded increments of OTC and Cys were added to Cys-free purified amino acid diets that were adequate in methionine. Curvilinear responses to both Cys and OTC for chicks and rats were obtained. Hepatic GSH accumulated in chicks only at dietary Cys levels above 0.10%. In rats, hepatic GSH increased linearly as dietary Cys content increased from deficient to adequate and from adequate to excessive. Utilization of OTC by chicks was as efficacious as isosulfurous levels of Cys for growth and hepatic GSH biosynthesis. In rats, OTC was slightly inferior to Cys for growth and hepatic GSH biosynthesis. Exponential regression slope-ratio growth efficacy values for OTC were 78.5% for chicks and 70.2% for rats; multiple linear regression slope-ratio GSH biosynthesis efficacy values were 80.3% for chicks and 83.7% for rats. It is concluded that orally administered OTC is active as a Cys precursor.

KEY WORDS: • chicks • rats • L-cysteine • L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate • hepatic glutathione

¹ Supported in part by funds provided by the Illinois Agriculture Experiment Station and by Degussa Corporation, Wolfgang, West Germany.

² National Institutes of Health Graduate Student Trainee in Nutritional Sciences (AMO 7497).

³ To whom reprint requests should be addressed: 328 Mumford Hall, 1301 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, (217) 333-0243.

Manuscript received 26 July 1989. Revision accepted 2 October 1989.

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