Work

Mammalian nitrate biosynthesis: incorporation of 15NH3 into nitrate is enhanced by endotoxin treatment.

Year: 1983

Type: article

Abstract: Incorporation of an oral dose of [15N]ammonium acetate into urinary [15N]nitrate has been demonstrated in the rat. Investigation of the regulation of nitrate synthesis has shown that Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide potently stimulates urinary nitrate excretion (9-fold increase). It was further shown that the enhanced rate of nitrate excretion by lipopolysaccharide was due not to a reduction in nitrate metabolic loss but rather to an increased rate of synthesis. This conclusion was based on finding a proportionally increased incorporation of [15N]ammonium into nitrate nitrogen with lipopolysaccharide treatment. Nitrate biosynthesis was also increased by intraperitoneal injection of carrageenan and subcutaneous injection of turpentine. It is proposed that the pathway of nitrate biosynthesis may be the result of oxidation of reduced nitrogen compounds by oxygen radicals generated by an activated reticuloendothelial system.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.80.14.4518

Authors: D A Wagner, V R Young, S R Tannenbaum

Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects

Subfield: Physiology (medical)

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Cancer Institute