Incorporation of intravenously administered urea-15N into sheep plasma proteins and their amide groups

Two sheep with a low and high nitrogen intake (7.6 and 24 g N/day respectively) were given a single intravenous dose of 15N-labelled urea (15.3 mg 15N/kg b.w.) The findings were as follows. The greater part of non-retained 15N from the administered dose was excreted during the first day after the intravenous administration of 15N-urea. Daily excretion in the faeces amounted to 1.35-2.37% of the 15N in the given dose. With a low N intake, more 15N from the given dose (59.4%) was retained in the N pool than with a high N intake (50.5%). The net passage of 15N into the rumen and 15N incorporation into the amide-N of the plasma proteins was likewise greater. 15N incorporation into the amide-N of the plasma proteins rose steadily for 3 days. The porportion of amidic 15N in the plasma proteins rose steadily for 3 days. The proportion of amidic 15N in the plasma protein total 15N changed on the second and third day after administering 15N-urea from 8% to 16%, with the maximum at the beginning of the second day. The amount of 15N incorporated into the proteins in 1 litre plasma attained up to 3% of the given dose. It is concluded from the results that the synthesis of amino acids and their amide groups is both a quantitatively and a qualitatively important metabolic route for the reutilization of blood urea nitrogen for protein synthesis in ruminants.