QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Davis, J. A. Articles by Benevenga, N. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Davis, J. A. Articles by Benevenga, N. J.

---

Article

Urea Production Is Increased in Neonatal Piglets Infused with Alanine at 25, 50, and 75% of Resting Energy Needs^{1 ,2}

Julie A. Davis^*, Frank R. Greer^*,** and Norlin J. Benevenga^*,3

Departments of ^* Nutritional Sciences, Animal Sciences and ^** Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI 53706

³To whom correspondence should be addressed.

To study the ability of neonatal piglets to metabolize a nitrogen load and excrete it as urea, 12 newborn piglets, 6 small (0.99 ± 0.16 kg; expt. 1) and 6 large (1.86 ± 0.16 kg; expt. 2), were infused intravenously with alanine (n = 8; 4 large, 4 small; treatment) or glucose (n = 4; 2 large, 2 small; control) at equal ATP equivalents, supplying 25–75% of the resting energy requirements of the piglet over 18 h. To adjust for differences in the baseline urinary urea nitrogen excretion, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and estimated urea production between groups, the absolute changes from baseline to maximum value for piglets infused with alanine, and from baseline to the 24-h value for piglets infused with glucose were evaluated statistically. There were no differences (0.1 < P < 0.3) in the absolute changes from baseline to maximum values of urinary urea nitrogen, BUN or estimated urea production between small [18.6 ± 3.8 mg N/(h · kg^0.75); 19.1 ± 2.2 mmol N/L; 2.7 ± 1.2 mmol N/(h · kg^0.75), respectively] and large [23.6 ± 7.6 mg N/(h · kg^0.75); 21.6 ± 3.3 mmol N/L; 3.7 ± 1.5 mmol N/(h · kg^0.75), respectively] piglets infused with alanine. Differences in the changes from baseline were detected between alanine and glucose (P = 0.001) infusions. Small piglets required more time (P < 0.005) for BUN to maximize after initiation of the alanine infusion, suggesting that small piglets require more time to process a nitrogen load. Infusion of alanine resulted in at least a threefold increase from baseline in the rate of calculated urea production, suggesting that neonatal piglets, small or large, have reserve capacity to metabolize nitrogen and excrete it as urea.

KEY WORDS: • piglets • neonate • urea cycle • alanine • nitrogen

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. D. Mickelson, F. R. Greer, and N. J. Benevenga The Contribution of Body Protein to the Supply of Energy in Starved Newborn Piglets Is Not Preferentially Suppressed by Intravenous Provision of Glucose and Fat J. Nutr., November 1, 2005; 135(11): 2609 - 2615. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. W. Rasch and N. J. Benevenga Recovery of 15N in the Body, Urine, and Gas Phase of Piglets Infused Intravenously with 15N L-Alanine from 12-72 Hours of Age J. Nutr., April 1, 2004; 134(4): 847 - 854. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Davis, F. R, and N. J. Benevenga Comparison of Total Body Urea Production Potential with Total Body Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase (CPS-1) Activity in Newborn Piglets Infused with Alanine at 50% of Resting Energy Expenditure for 36 Hours J. Nutr., August 1, 2000; 130(8): 1978 - 1983. [Abstract] [Full Text]