The mechanism of inhibition of ureogenesis by acidosis

In perfused rat liver a decrease of cytosol pH, determined with pH-sensitive microelectrodes7 from 7.2 to 6.85 is associated with a 50% fall in ureogenesis from ammonium chloride. In isolated rat hepatocytes the fall in ureogenesis due to acidosis is associated with decrease in the mitochondrial and cytosolic concentration of citrulline. Limitation of carbamoyl phosphate synthesis and thus citrulline supply could be responsible for the inhibition of ureogenesis observed.     

Control of ammonia distribution ratio across the liver cell membrane and of ureogenesis by extracellular pH

The mechanisms involved in ammonia uptake by rat liver cells and the effects of changes in extracellular pH have been investigated in vivo and in vitro. When NH4Cl solutions were infused in the hepatic portal vein, ammonia uptake by the liver was practically quantitative up to about 1 mM in afferent blood. Ammonia transfer into hepatocytes was extremely rapid: for 2 mM ammonia in external medium, the intracellular concentration reached 5 mM within 10 s. Comparatively, [14C]methylamine influx was slower and the cell concentrations did not reach a steady-state level, probably in relation with diffusion into the acidic lysosomal compartment. Intracellular accumulation of ammonia was dependent on the delta pH across the plasma membrane: the distribution ratio (internal/external) was about 1 for an external pH of 6.8 and about 5 at pH 8. Urea synthesis was maximal at physiological pH and markedly declined at pH 7.05. This inhibition was not affected by manipulation of bicarbonate concentrations in the medium, down to 10 mM. Additional inhibition of ureogenesis by 100 microM acetazolamide was also observed, particularly at low concentrations of bicarbonate in the medium. Inhibition of ureogenesis when extracellular pH is decreased could be ascribed to a lower availability of the NH3 form. Assuming that NH3 readily equilibrates between the various compartments, the availability of free ammonia for carbamoyl-phosphate synthesis could be tightly dependent on extracellular pH.     

Interrelationship between drug oxidation ureogenesis and gluconeogenesis in isolated hepatocytes

1. The effect of increased ureogenesis--provoked by NH4Cl and ornithine--on gluconeogenesis and aminopyrine oxidation was studied in isolated hepatocytes prepared from 24 hr starved mice; lactate or fructose was used as gluconeogenic precursor. 2. Increased ureogenesis caused about 40% inhibition both on aminopyrine oxidation and gluconeogenesis when lactate was added as gluconeogenic substrate. 3. On the other hand, only 10% inhibition of aminopyrine oxidation and about 15% inhibition of gluconeogenesis were observed when fructose was used as gluconeogenic precursor. 4. Aminopyrine has been reported to inhibit gluconeogenesis from fructose by 30% and from lactate by 85%. The inhibitory effect of the combined addition of aminopyrine, NH4Cl and ornithine on gluconeogenesis was also dependent on the applied gluconeogenic precursor. 5. The provoked ureogenesis by ammonia and ornithine was not inhibited by aminopyrine. N6, O2-dibutyryl cAMP known to cause an increase of gluconeogenesis a decrease of aminopyrine oxidation enhanced the inhibitory action of increased ureogenesis on aminopyrine oxidation and on gluconeogenesis further. 6. The role of NADPH in the regulation of drug oxidation and ureogenesis is underlined.     

Effect of alloxan-diabetes on gluconeogenesis and ureogenesis in isolated rabbit liver cells.

1. Neither alloxan-diabetes nor starvation affected the rate of glucose production in hepatocytes incubated with lactate, pyruvate, propionate or fructose as substrates. In contrast, glucose synthesis with either alanine or glutamine was increased nearly 3- and 12-fold respectively, in comparison with that in fed rabbits. 2. The addition of amino-oxyacetate resulted in about a 50% decrease in glucose formation from lactate in hepatocytes isolated from fed, alloxan-diabetic and starved rats, suggesting that both mitochondrial and cytosolic forms of rabbit phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase function actively during gluconeogenesis. 3. Alloxan-diabetes resulted in about 2-3-fold stimulation of urea production from either amino acid studied or NH4Cl as NH3 donor, whereas starvation caused a significant increase in the rate of ureogenesis only in the presence of alanine as the source of NH3. 4. As concluded from changes in the [3-hydroxybutyrate]/[acetoacetate] ratio, in hepatocytes from diabetic animals the mitochondrial redox state was shifted toward oxidation in comparison with that observed in liver cells isolated from fed rabbits.     

Vasopressin and angiotensin II stimulate ureogenesis through increased mitochondrial citrulline production.

Vasopressin, angiotensin II, glucagon and epinephrine (through a cAMP-independent, alpha₁adrenergic mechanism), stimulate ureogenesis in isolated rat hepatocytes. Mitochondria, isolated from hepatocytes which were previously treated with these hormones, displayed an enhanced rate of citrulline synthesis in the presence of NH₄Cl as the nitrogen source. When mitochondria were incubated with glutamine as the nitrogen source, only those mitochondria isolated from hepatocytes previously treated with epinephrine or glucagon displayed an enhanced capacity to synthesize citrulline.When cells were incubated in the absence of extracellular calcium, the effects of vasopressin and angiotensin II on urea synthesis were abolished, whereas those of epinephrine and glucagon were only diminished. Mitochondria isolated from cells incubated under these conditions, showed that the effect of all these hormones on citrulline synthesis could still be observed. However, the effects of glucagon and epinephrine plus propranolol were larger than those of angiotensin II or vasopressin.Phosphatidylinositol labeling was significantly increased by epinephrine, vasopressin and angiotensin II both in the absence or presence of calcium. Cyclic AMP levels were significantly increased by glucagon or epinephrine but not by vasopressin or angiotensin II. The effect of epinephrine on cyclic AMP levels was blocked by propranolol both in the absence or presence of calcium.     

Perifused monolayer cultures of rat hepatocytes as an improved in vitro system for studies on ureogenesis

A perifusion system has been developed for cultivation of adult rat hepatocytes, permitting continuous supply of medium to the cell monolayer instead of periodical changes as used in conventional culture technique (discontinuous culture). Additionally, a modification of Waymouth's MB 752/1 medium is described, which favoured the expression of several metabolic and regulatory events mentioned below and supported the maintenance of several enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism. The improved nutritional conditions accelerated early monolayer formation and metabolic recovery, and favoured long-term cultivation of metabolically active and hormone responsive hepatocytes. Urea formation from substrates contained in the medium was found to be 2- to 3-fold higher and preserved for a considerably longer time than with discontinuously cultured cells, and was further enhanced by addition of tryptose phosphate broth or 4 mM NH₄Cl even after 10 days in culture. In the presence of glucagon (10⁻⁷ M) the urea production was more than doubled during a 24 h incubation period on the 4th day. Pretreatment with this hormone for 24 h also markedly stimulated the capacity of perifused cells for ureogenesis. Concomitantly, a rise in arginase activity up to 2-fold could be measured in response to glucagon, which was largely suppressed by simultaneous presence of leucine in concentrations between 5 and 10 mM.     

Reducing-equivalent transfer to the mitochondria during gluconeogenesis and ureogenesis in hepatocytes from rats of different thyroid status.

Isolated hepatocytes from hypothyroid, euthyroid and hyperthyroid rats have been employed to investigate the relative importance of reducing-equivalent shuttles for the transfer of hydrogen between cytoplasm and mitochondria during simultaneous ureogenesis and gluconeogenesis. In cells from hypothyroid animals, a 58% depression of glucose formation and 68% reduction in ureogenesis were induced by n-butylmalonate, an inhibitor of the malate shuttle. A more reduced state of the cytoplasmic compartment and a substantial fall in the concentrations of pyruvate, aspartate, alanine and glutamate accompanied this inhibition. Preincubation of cells with n-butylmalonate yielded greater inhibitory effects than observed in the absence of preincubation. The inhibitory effects on gluconeogenesis and ureogenesis were less in cells from euthyroid rats and were very much reduced in the case of glucose synthesis and absent in the case of ureogenesis, in cells from hyperthyroid rats. It is inferred that both the malate-aspartate and alpha-glycerophosphate shuttles may function in the transfer of reducing equivalents from cytoplasm to mitochondria during ureogenesis in hepatocytes. The major inhibition by n-butylmalonate of glucose and urea synthesis in hepatocytes from hypothyroid rats is due to the diminished activity of the alpha-glycerophosphate shuttle in these cells. Moreover, it follows that the NADH arising from the cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase-catalysed reaction is accessible to both the malate-aspartate shuttle and the alpha-glycerophosphate shuttle.     

Effect of alkalinity (pH 10) on ureogenesis in the air-breathing walking catfish,Clarias batrachus

Exposure of fish to alkaline conditions inhibits the rate of ammonia excretion, leading to ammonia accumulation and toxicity. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of ureogenesis via the urea cycle, to avoid the accumulation of ammonia to a toxic level during chronic exposure to alkaline conditions, for the air-breathing walking catfish, Clarias batrachus, where a full complement of urea cycle enzyme activity has been documented. The walking catfish can survive in water with a pH up to 10. At a pH of 10 the ammonia excretion rate by the walking catfish decreased by approximately 75% within 6 h. Although there was a gradual improvement of ammonia excretion rate by the alkaline-exposed fish, the rate remained 50% lower, even after 7 days. This decrease of ammonia excretion was accompanied by a significant accumulation of ammonia in plasma and body tissues (except in the brain). Urea-N excretion for alkaline-exposed fish increased 2.5-fold within the first day, which was maintained until day 3 and was then followed by a slight decrease to maintain a 2-fold increase in the urea-N excretion rate, even after 7 days. There was also a higher accumulation of urea in plasma and other body tissues (liver, kidney, muscle and brain). The activity of glutamine synthetase and three enzymes operating in the urea cycle (carbamyl phosphate synthetase, argininosuccinate synthetase, argininosuccinate lyase) increased significantly in hepatic and extra-hepatic tissue, such as the kidney and muscle in C. batrachus, during exposure to alkaline water. A significant increase in plasma lactate concentration noticed during alkaline exposure possibly helped in the maintenance of the acid-base balance. It is apparent that the stimulation of ureogenesis via the induced urea cycle is one of the major physiological strategies adopted by the walking catfish (C. batrachus) during chronic exposure to alkaline water, to avoid the in vivo accumulation of ammonia to a toxic level in body tissues and for the maintenance of pH homeostasis.     

A tryptic peptide from beta-casein depresses protein synthesis and degradation and enhances ureogenesis in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes

1. A peptide which enhances ureogenesis in primary cultured hepatocytes of rats was isolated from a tryptic digest of bovine beta-casein. 2. The structure of the peptide was Ala-Val-Pro-Tyr-Pro-Gln-Arg which is located from 177th to 183rd residues from N-terminal of beta-casein. 3. The peptide also showed the activity to inhibit protein synthesis and protein degradation. 4. It also inhibited DNA synthesis of hepatocytes induced by insulin and/or epidermal growth factor.     

Hepatocyte heterogeneity in glutamine and ammonia metabolism and the role of an intercellular glutamine cycle during ureogenesis in perfused rat liver

1. The metabolism of glutamine and ammonia was studied in isolated perfused rat liver in relation to its dependence on the direction of perfusion by comparing the physiological antegrade (portal to caval vein) to the retrograde direction (caval to portal vein). 2. Added ammonium ions are mainly converted to urea in antegrade and to glutamine in retrograde perfusions. In the absence of added ammonia, endogenously arising ammonium ions are converted to glutamine in antegrade, but are washed out in retrograde perfusions. When glutamine synthetase is inhibited by methionine sulfoximine, direction of perfusion has no effect on urea synthesis from added or endogenous ammonia. 3. 14CO2 production from [1-14C]glutamine is higher in antegrade than in retrograde perfusions as a consequence of label dilution during retrograde perfusions. 4. The results are explained by substrate and enzyme activity gradients along the liver lobule under conditions of limiting ammonia supply for glutamine and urea synthesis, and they are consistent with a perivenous localization of glutamine synthetase and a predominantly periportal localization of glutaminase and urea synthesis. Further, the data indicate a predominantly periportal localization of endogenous ammonia production. The results provide a basis for an intercellular (as opposed to intracellular) glutamine cycling and its role under different metabolic conditions.     

Interrelations between ureogenesis and gluconeogenesis in isolated hepatocytes. The role of antion transport and the competition for energy.

1. Glucose synthesis from lactate plus pyruvate and from lactate plus alanine was measured in the presence or absence of 1mM-oleate or 2mM-octanoate at low (2mM) or high (8mM) concentrations of NH4Cl. 2. Both fatty acids alone or with 2mM-NH4Cl doubled glucose production from lactate plus pyruvate. Glucose synthesis from lactate plus alanine, in the presence of oleate, was decreased 16% by 2mM-NH4Cl. 3. In the presence of fatty acids, 8mM-NH4Cl decreased gluconeogenesis by 60-65% from both lactate plus pyruvate and lactate plus alanine. This inhibition was correlated with a high accumulation of aspartate and a drastic decrease in 2-oxoglutarate and malate in the cells. 4. In the presence of 2mM- or 8 mM-NH4Cl, oleate and glucogenic precursors, the addition of 2.5mM-ornithine stimulated urea synthesis. 5. This was paralleled by a decrease of 16% in glucose synthesis from lactate plus pyruvate in the presence of 2mM-NH4Cl and had no effect at 8mM-NH4Cl. In the system producing glucose from lactate plus alanine, ornithine completely reversed the inhibition caused by 2mM-NH4Cl and only partly that by 8mM-NH4Cl. 6. Gluconeogenesis from pyruvate was also inhibited by 2mM-NH4Cl in the presence of oleate or ethanol. This way due to the decrease of malate, which is the C4 precursor of glucose in this system. 7. The limitation of gluconeogenesis by 2-oxoglutarate and malate concentrations in the liver cell and the competition for energy between glucose and urea synthesis is discussed.     

Induction of ureogenesis in perfused liver of a freshwater teleost, Heteropneustes fossilis, infused with different concentrations of ammonium chloride

The induction pattern of urea cycle enzymes and the rate of urea-N excretion were studied with relation to ammonia load in the perfused liver of a freshwater ammoniotelic teleost, Heteropneustes fossilis, when infused with different concentrations of ammonium chloride for 60 min. Both urea-N excretion and uptake of ammonia by the perfused liver were found to be a saturable process. The V_max of urea-N excretion (0.45 μmol/g liver/min) was obtained at ammonium chloride addition of 1.18 μmol/g liver/min. The maximum induction of carbamyl phosphate synthetase (ammonia dependent), 200%, and of ornithine transcarbamylase, 120%, was seen by the addition of 0.58 μmol/g liver/min, and for argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase of 150% and 115%, respectively, by the addition of 2.8 μmol/g liver/min of ammonium chloride. However, arginase activity did not alter in any of the concentrations of ammonium chloride added. An increase of ammonia load of 3–5 μmol/g wet wt from the physiological level in the perfused liver was sufficient to initiate and to cause maximum induction of most of the urea cycle enzymes activitty. These results further confirm the capacity of transition from ammoniotelism to ureotelism in this unique freshwater air-breathing teleost to tolerate a very high ambient ammonia.     

Expression of ornithine-urea cycle enzymes in early life stages of air-breathing walking catfish Clarias batrachus and induction of ureogenesis under hyper-ammonia stress

The air-breathing walking catfish Clarias batrachus is a potential ureogenic teleost with having a full complement of ornithine-urea cycle (OUC) enzymes expressed in various tissues. The present study was aimed at determining the pattern of nitrogenous waste excretion in the form of ammonia-N and urea-N along with the changes of tissue ammonia and urea levels, and the expression of OUC enzymes and glutamine synthetase (GSase) in early life stages of this teleost, and further, to study the possible induction of ureogenesis in 15-day old fry under hyper-ammonia stress. The ammonia and urea excretion was visible within 12 h post-fertilization (hpf), which increased several-fold until the yolk was completely absorbed by the embryo. Although all the early developing stages were primarily ammoniotelic, they also excreted significant amount of nitrogen (N) in the form of urea-N (about 35-40% of total N). Tissue levels of ammonia and urea also increased along with subsequent developmental stages at least until the yolk absorption stage. All the OUC enzymes and GSase were expressed within 4-12 hpf showing an increasing trend of activity for all the enzymes until 350 hpf. There was a significant increase of activity of GSase, carbamyl phosphate synthetase III (CPSase III) and argininosuccinate lyase enzymes (ASL), accompanied with significant increase of enzyme protein concentration of at least two enzymes (GSase and CPSase III) in the 15-day old fry following exposure to 10 mM NH4Cl as compared to respective controls kept in water over a period of 72 h. Thus, it appears that the OUC enzymes are expressed in early life stages of walking catfish like other teleosts, but at relatively high levels and remain expressed all through the life stages with a potential of stimulation of ureogenesis throughout the life cycle as a sort of physiological adaptation to survive and breed successfully under hyper-ammonia and various other environmental-related stresses.     

Role of ureogenesis in tackling problems of ammonia toxicity during exposure to higher ambient ammonia in the air-breathing walking catfish<Emphasis Type="Italic">clarias batrachus</Emphasis>

In the present study, the possible role of ureogenesis to avoid the accumulation of toxic ammonia to a lethal level under hyper-ammonia stress was tested in the air-breathing walking catfishClarias batrachus by exposing the fish at 25 mM NH₄Cl for 7 days. Excretion of ammonia by the NH₄Cl-exposed fish was totally suppressed, which was accompanied by significant accumulation of ammonia in different body tissues. The walking catfish, which is otherwise predominantly ammoniotelic, turned totally towards ureotelism from ammoniotelism with a 5-to 6-fold increase of urea-N excretion during exposure to higher ambient ammonia. Stimulation of ureogenesis was accompanied with significant increase of some of the key urea cycle enzymes such as carbamyl phosphate synthetase (urea cycle-related), argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase both in hepatic and non-hepatic tissues. Due to this unique physiological strategy of turning towards ureotelism from ammoniotelism via the induced urea cycle, this air-breathing catfish is able to survive in very high ambient ammonia, which they face in certain seasons of the year in the natural habitat.