NUCLEIC ACID DIGESTION AND URINARY PURINE METABOLITES IN SHEEP NOURISHED BY INTRAGASTRIC INFUSIONS

Abstract

In sheep with washed-out rumen and nourished only by intragastric infusions of nutrients, the renal excretion of purine metabolites of endogenous origin as well as close correlations between abomasal RNA dosage and excretion rates of allantoin, hypoxanthine and guanine were established; a promising measure for rumen microbial growth. Key words: Sheep, infused RNA, rumen, purine metabolites