Effect of urea on concentration of urinary nonurea solute in premature infants.

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Abstract
Supplementation of low-protein feeding with urea in infants resulted in elevation in concentration of urea in serum and rate of excretion of urea in urine. During hydropenia urinary osmolality varied directly with concentration of urea in serum and rate of excretion of urea in urine. The increased osmolality, which resulted entirely from increased concentration of urea, occurred without change in concentration of nonurea solute until rates of urea excretion exceeded 40 [mu]moles/min. per 1.73 m2. Above that rate there was a reciprocal decline in concentration of nonurea solute, although less water was obligated than would have been predicted for other solute. Thus at low rates of excretion urea obligates no water, due apparently to its complete equilibration between the tubular and interstitial compartment; at higher rates of excretion incomplete equilibration causes urea to act as an osmotic diuretic, obligating water and thus decreasing the concentration in urine of nonurea solute.

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