Incorporation of dl-[2−14C]ornithine and dl-[5−14C]arginine in milk constituents by the isolated lactating sheep udder

Abstract

1. Lactating mammary glands of sheep were perfused for several hours in the presence of dl-[2−14C]ornithine or dl-[5−14C]arginine and received adequate quantities of acetate, glucose and amino acids. 2. In the [14C]ornithine experiment 1·4% of the casein and 1% of the expired carbon dioxide came from added ornithine; 96% of the total radioactivity in casein was recovered in proline; 13% of the proline of casein originated from plasma ornithine. 3. In this experiment the results of chemical degradation of proline of casein as well as relative specific activities in the isolated products are consistent with the view that ornithine is metabolized, by way of glutamic γ-semialdehyde, to proline or glutamic acid. 4. In the [14C]arginine experiments 3% of the casein and 1% of the expired carbon dioxide came from arginine; 84% of the arginine and 9% of the proline of casein originated from plasma arginine. 5. In these experiments the relative specific activities of arginine, ornithine and proline in plasma are in agreement with the view that arginine is metabolized by way of ornithine to proline. The conversion of arginine into ornithine is probably catalysed by arginase, so that arginase in mammary tissue may be involved in the process of milk synthesis.