Synthesis of Hexosamine in the Rat

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Abstract
Hexosamine synthesis within the rat was demonstrated by means of balance studies on fasted animals and on animals fed diets containing very small or moderate amounts of hexosamine. Supplementation of diets with moderate amounts of glucosamine-HCl had no effect on hexosamine levels in the carcass or excreta, indicating the destruction of this glucosamine within the animal. In normally growing rats a marked decrease in carcass hexosamine concentration was found to occur between 10 and 80 days of age. The presence of hexosamines was also demonstrated in a number of semi-purified dietary proteins.