Effect of Environmental Temperature and Dietary Protein on Urinary Nitrogen Excretion of Rats

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Abstract
Rats were maintained on a low protein diet (5.3% casein) and exposed to 3 ambient temperatures (4[degree]C, 23[degree]C, and 35[degree]C). Food intake, total urinary N, and the various urinary fractions urea, allantoin, and creatine were found to be inverse to the exposure temperature and thus directly related to the metabolic stresses imposed by high and low temperatures. Urinary uric acid, ammonia and amino acids, and creatinine were unaffected. The reduced air temperature appears to actuate a rise in tissue metabolism which is associated with decreased growth as well as increased deamination of food proteins and augmented metabolism of cell proteins.