Utilization of Nitrogen from Selected Purines and Pyrimidines and from Urea by the Young Chick

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Abstract
Young chicks were fed crystalline amino acid diets made first-limiting in nonessential nitrogen (i.e., glutamic acid). Addition of 3% L-glutamic acid to this diet doubled growth rate. Urea supplementation stimulated growth, even in the presence of a high dietary level of chlortetracycline. Adenine at levels below 0.60% stumulated weight gain and protein retention. Growth was depressed by adenine levels greater than 0.80%, but a high level of chlortetracycline tended to ameliorate this effect. Uracil appeared to be a good source of nitrogen for nonessential amino acid synthesis but neither xanthine nor uric acid elicited a response when added to the nitrogen-deficient diet.