Urea Synthesis by Hemic Cells

[摘要] A method for measuring urea production by isolated erythrocytes and leucocytes under physiologic conditions is described. Erythrocytes from 10 normal subjects formed an average of 82.5 mµmoles urea/ml. packed cells/hr. Leucocytes formed 7.4 mµmoles urea/108 cells/hr. By extrapolation, total urea synthesis by circulating erythrocytes would be approximately 270 mg./day and by the granulocyte pool approximately 5 mg./day. The total contribution of circulating hemic cells to over-all urea synthesis approximates 1 to 3% on an average protein diet. Six patients with cystinuria were also studied. No defect in urea synthesis, as a reflection of impaired arginine transport, could be detected in their blood cells with the conditions employed.

[学科分类] 过敏症与临床免疫学