Abstract
Summary
Chicks reared to 4 weeks of age on a purified diet supplemented with a sub-optimal level of arginine showed a highly variable growth rate within the group which was inversely correlated with the concentration of arginase in their kidneys. Supplementation of this diet, as well as a practical type diet, with excess arginine caused a highly significant elevation of kidney arginase levels. This induction of kidney arginase activity was apparently specific inasmuch as glycine supplementation was without effect.
The authors gratefully acknowledge gifts of vitamins from Merck and Co., Rahway, N. J. and Hoff-mann-LaRoche, Nutley, N. J. General Mills, Minneapolis, Minn, generously supplied arginine hydro-chloride.
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