[Amino acid production in the isolated and perfused rumen wall of sheep]

The metabolism of amino acids and urea in an isolated perfused wall of sheep rumen was studied by the method of organ perfusion, using 3 kinds of perfusate. In experiments with semisynthetic perfusate containing urea (SPurea) the levels of lysine, valine, glutamic acid and alanine increased at a simultaneous decrease of levels of leucine, arginine, aspartic acid, threonine and methionine. In perfusions with the semisynthetic medium without urea (SP) the levels of lysine, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, glutamic acid, glycine and alanine increased, the level of threonine dropped. In perfusions with whole autologous blood (KP) the levels of valine, glutamic acid and alanine increased, the level of arginine decreased. The level of urea decreased sharply at using SPurea and KP, however, the equal cumulation of ammonia (200-400 mumol x 1(-1)) was found in all three types of perfusate after 2-hr perfusion. Moreover, in experiments with SP a low level of urea was found already after 5-min. of perfusion. The results of the experiments suggest that the rumen wall is capable of producing amino acids also without the contents of rumen, and that independently on the presence or absence of urea as a nitrogen source.