Effect of dietary energy intake on tubular reabsorption of urea in sheep

The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect of dietary energy intake on renal urea excretion in sheep with different nitrogen intakes. The control sheep, with a high nitrogen and energy intake, were given a daily feed dose of 21.18 g N and 15.2 MJ digestible energy (DE). The two experimental groups, with an equal, low nitrogen intake, were given diets with a different energy content. The high energy diet contained 3.63 g N and 14.18 MJ DE, the low energy diet 3.4 g N and 6.44 MJ DE. After nine weeks' adaptation to the diets, renal functions were measured by a standard clearance technique. It was found that, under stable urine flow conditions, both groups given the low nitrogen diet had a significantly lower glomerular filtration rate, fractional urea excretion and total urea excretion. A reciprocal comparison of these two groups showed that fractional urea excretion by the sheep with a high energy intake was significantly lower than in the group with a low energy intake. There were no differences in the glomerular filtration rate. A raised dietary energy intake in the presence of a low nitrogen intake caused marked natriuresis and kaliuresis. The results indicate that a raised dietary energy intake can be a significant factor in potentiating the renal effect of urea retention in sheep with a low nitrogen intake.