RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 UREA METABOLISM AND INTESTINAL UREOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF RATS FED ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 359
OP 365
VO 126
IS 4
A1 W. J. Visek
A1 J. M. Baron
A1 D. M. Switz
YR 1959
UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/126/4/359.abstract
AB Young male rats fed a semi-purified basal diet supplemented with penicillin, chiortetracycline or arsanilic acid at a level of 100 ppm metabolized significantly less C14 urea than unsupplemented controls. C14O2 production was determined for 6 hours following subcutaneous injection of C14 urea at 6 weekly intervals to the pair-fed animals. Urea metabolism was decreased to the greatest degree by chlortetracycline followed by penicillin and then arsanilic acid. The injections of labeled urea were made in animals fasted for 18 hours. Ureolytic activities of the gastrointestinal tract plus contents were determined and expressed in mg urea split per g of dry matter. This was significantly decreased in the small intestine by penicillin and chlortetracycline but not by arsanilic acid. In the large intestine tetracycline and arsanilic acid significantly decreased ureolytic activity but this was not true with penicillin. No differences in growth or feed required per gram of gain were observed. The weights of liver, kidney and adrenal and intestine free of contents were not significantly different in either group. Data are reported from over 100 animals. The possible relationships between the effects of antibiotics and arsenicals on urea hydrolysis in the intestinal tract and the effects of these agents on growth and inhibition of infection are discussed.