[Effect of purine-rich nutrients on weight gain, catabolites in blood plasma and the uric acid transport of erythrocytes--a model study in dogs].

In a nutritional tolerance study 36 young dogs were fed over 52 weeks high or low purine diets at an average paired feeding intake of 0.6 and 80 mg purine-N/MJ per day. The high purine diet resulted in a significant decrease of growth rate by -23% (Beagles) and -38% (Dalmatians) and of feed efficiency (-29 and -42%). The fasting levels of allantoin, uric acid and uracil in blood plasma were significantly increased. During the experiment a metabolic adaptation to the high purine diet decreased the plasma concentrations of uric acid, uracil and in part of allantoin. The high purine diet effected a significant increase of Km (2.5-fold) and of Vmax (1.6-fold) of uric transport through the erythrocyte membrane. The results documented disadvantageous effects of high purine nutrition during juvenile development.