title: [Nitrogen requirements of Microtus rossiaemeridionalis].
abstract: Total nitrogen requirements in the small herbivorous rodent Microtus rossiaemeridionalis were studied. When provided with two kinds of standard laboratory food (about 20 and 0% digestible protein, respectively) ad libitum (cafeteria diet), the voles chose a diet of 14% protein. The total daily (with urine and faeces) nitrogen losses were, in this case, determined as 3.65 +/- 0. 60 mg N/g of body mass. When provided with a protein-free diet alone, the animals lost 0.90 +/- 0.05 mg N/g body mass per day, comprising about 3% of their body mass daily. It was proposed that the consumption of a low-fiber diet (about 4% in both kinds of food) could affect the gastrointestinal bacterial flora and, thus, lead to changes in the primarily herbivorous nitrogen metabolism.
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Naumov
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Meshcherskiĭ
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ushakova
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000378:metabolism*; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen