Changes in Carcass Urea Following Evisceration in the Rat

Summary

Male rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain were eviscerated at a weight of 250 g and were given intravenous infusions of solutions of glucose, insulin and 0.9% sodium chloride for periods up to 48 hours. Comparisons were made of the total carcass plus urinary urea in 26 control rats taken immediately following evisceration, 24 rats which were killed 24 hours following evisceration and 16 rats which were killed 48 hours following evisceration. The average total carcass urea of the 24-hour rats was lower than that of the controls, and the average value for the 48-hour group was still lower. From the statistical standpoint, it is highly probable that there was some extra-renal loss of urea following evisceration. These results are indirect evidence for the occurrence of urea catabolism. The results are in agreement with observations on other species in showing that there is no rise in the urea concentration of the body in the absence of the liver.