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Origin of Excess Urinary Nitrate in the Rat¹

Departments of Medical Microbiology [J. P. W., E. B.], Surgery [E. B.], and Radiology [J. G.], University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin 53706

The ability of intestinal microorganisms to N-oxidize nitrogenous compounds to nitrite or nitrate was evaluated both in vivo and in vitro. Nitrate balance studies with germ-free and conventional rats indicated that the host and not the microbial flora is responsible for excess urinary nitrate. In vitro studies showed that most intestinal microorganisms are not able to N-oxidize nitrogenous compounds to nitrite. Although the metabolic pathway for endogenous nitrate formation remains unknown, the capacity of the rats to N-oxidize acetohydroxamate and hydroxylamine to nitrate indicates that such compounds could be intermediates in nitrate synthesis.

¹ Funded by a grant from the local American Cancer Society (135-4402-A34-5347-4) and the University of Wisconsin Graduate School.

² Present address: Joint Diseases Laboratory, Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 1529 Cedar Avenue Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1A6.

³ To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Departments of Surgery and Medical Microbiology, University of Wisconsin Center for Health Sciences, Room 4638, Medical Sciences Center, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, Wis. 53706.

Received 6/18/81. Accepted 5/ 7/82.

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