Carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase I activity and ureagenesis in regenerating liver of the normal rat.

Urea excretion per gram of liver was increased 219% 2-5 h post-partial hepatectomy (Hx) and 45% 24-27 h post-Hx. Mitochondrial carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase was also increased 5 h post-Hx but was not increased at 27 h. An NH4+ load did not increase urea excretion per gram liver or the enzyme activity noticeably in the 2- to 5-h period but did increase them 24-27 h post-Hx. These results suggest that the enzyme activity and urea formation per unit weight of liver were nearly maximal early during regeneration. Orotic acid excretion per gram of liver in rats that received NH4+ was increased more than 30-fold 2-5 h post-Hx and was similar in this respect to nonhepatectomized rats. Ornithine prevented the increase in both normal and hepatectomized rats, suggesting that ornithine was rate limiting for the ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OCT) reaction. The orotic acid excretion response to NH4+ was much less 24-27 h post-Hx, indicating that ornithine availability for the OCT reaction may be increased at this time.