Effects of Ammonia on the Absorption and Accumulation of Glucose, 45Ca and 32P from the Ligated Intestinal Loop of the Chick

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Abstract
The intent of this study was to determine if release of ammonia in the intestines with the subsequent complex formation with magnesium and phosphorus could interfere with the absorption of substances transported into the body by energy-requiring processes. The absorption of glucose, 45Ca2+ and 32PO43- from the ligated duodenal loop of the chick was significantly lower in the presence of NH4Cl than for animals not given the NH4Cl in the test dose. The accumulation of 45Ca and 32P in the tibia was also significantly lower as the result of NH4Cl administration. Urea, equimolar to the NH4Cl, showed no effect on intestinal absorption or bone accumulation, indicating little or no hydrolysis of urea in the chick duodenum in the 20-minute test period. Glycine increased glucose absorption, while lysine decreased 32P absorption without affecting the 32P uptake by the tibia. It was postulated that ammonia immobilized inorganic phosphate through complex formation and thus reduced 32P absorption. The depletion of the inorganic phosphorus could lead to insufficient available high energy phosphate for energy-requiring transport processes for glucose and calcium.