22 



Scientific Proceedings (46). 



5 (624) 



Nitrogen and sodium chloride excretion in experimental 

 uranium nephritis. 1 



By Herman 0. Mosenthal. 



[From the Departments of Biological Chemistry and Medicine, 

 College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 

 New York.] 



A series of experiments were performed upon dogs with the 

 object of determining the effects on the output of nitrogen and 

 sodium chloride in nephritis produced by the subcutaneous injec- 

 tion of uranium nitrate. These dogs were fed the usual standard 

 diets, also diets containing much meat, as well as food to which 

 considerable amounts of urea and sodium chloride had been added. 



The results of these experiments appear to justify the following 

 conclusions regarding uranium nephritis. 



1. The nitrogen secreted by the small intestine, as determined 

 by the Thiry fistula method, is somewhat diminished. 



2. The fecal nitrogen remains approximately unchanged. 



3. The urinary nitrogen is not diminished even when the diet 

 demands an excretion of one gram of urinary nitrogen per kilo 

 of body weight of the dog. 



4. In some cases the urinary nitrogen is increased. The source 

 of this excess of nitrogen is problematical. It may be due to 

 protein destruction of the body tissues caused by the same toxic 

 agent as the nephritis. If this be true, the "rest" nitrogen of 

 the blood serum should be higher than normal. Experimental 

 attempts have been made to ascertain the facts in this connection 

 but have not been pushed far enough to warrant a definite state- 

 ment. 



5. The sodium chloride excretion in the urine keeps pace with 

 the intake even when considerable quantities are added to the 

 food. 



6. The above statements have held true for dogs after the 

 first as well as after several large single injections of the drug at 

 long intervals. One animal was tested after he had received as 

 many as seven injections. 



'Under the auspices of the Edward N. Gibbs Memorial Prize Fund. 



