title: Endogenous urea as a nitrogen source for microorganisms of the rabbit digestive tract.
abstract: The total urea release, measured in the different secretions of the digestive tract of the rabbit, is estimated to be 22 mmol/day, which represents half of the urea produced by the nitrogen catabolism of the animal. This quantity represents a significant source of nitrogen for symbiotic bacteria and, due to coprophagy , could be recycled in the bacterial proteins digested by the rabbit.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000032:analysis; D002432:Cecum / Q000032:analysis; D003106:Colon / Q000032:analysis; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000032:analysis; D007419:Intestinal Secretions / Q000032:analysis; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010189:Pancreatic Juice / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D014508:Urea / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D014508:Urea; D009584:Nitrogen