¹ From the Biochemistry Department, Medical College of Alabama, Birmingham

Available data on the isotopic ratio

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of ammonia (r_a)

and that of urea (r_u) after a single feeding of glycine, aspartic acid, and ammonium citrate are analyzed. From this analysis the following conclusions are drawn.

1. The isotopic ratio

See PDF for Equation

of ammonia (r_a) is always higher than that of urea (r_u) in the initial period after a single feeding of isotopic glycine or aspartic acid, but the relation is reversed later. A similar relation probably holds after feeding isotopic ammonia.

2. It is pointed out that the ratio of average r_a to average r_u depends on the time interval for which urine is collected, on the schedule of feeding, and probably also on the amount taken at each feeding. When the amount fed and the feeding schedule are unknown, theoretical interpretation of the ratio of average r_u to average r_u is impossible.

3. At the point of maximum isotopic ratio of urea, it is very probably equal to the isotopic ratio of ammonia. A possible explanation is suggested.

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