Effect of dietary ornithine on renal and hepatic polyamine synthesis.

Chicks with genetically elevated renal arginase activity were fed crystalline amino acid diets varying in ornithine concentration (0, 1 or 2%) to assess the potential for precursor regulation of polyamine synthesis. Renal arginase and renal and hepatic ornithine decarboxylase activities fell when ornithine was fed. Renal and hepatic ornithine concentrations rose while putrescine concentrations varied quadratically with ornithine feeding. Spermidine and spermine concentrations were not affected by diet. It was concluded that ornithine synthesized in vivo was a more potent stimulator of polyamine synthesis than ornithine of dietary origin.