Hepatic Carbamyl Phosphate Synthetase and Ornithine Transcarbamylase in Mouse Influenza A and Influenza B Infection 1

Abstract

Summary

In mice infected with mouse-adapted influenza A/PR/8/34, hepatic car-bamyl phosphate synthetase (CPS) activity was reduced to 88%, and ornithine trans-carbamylase (OTC) was reduced to 83% of control values. In mice infected with mouse-adapted B/Lee/40, CPS activity was 98% and OTC was 94% of control values. These limited reductions in enzyme activity were attributed to a nonspecific debilitating effect of acute influenzal pneumonia. These findings suggest that the pronounced reduction of CPS and OTC activities reported in Reye's syndrome in man are not a general manifestation of the severity of influenza infection.