[New method of checking the quality of food proteins required for maintenance. 2. 15N excretion in feces of test rats labelled with 15N after feeding with different protein sources]

Endogenous N-losses in broilers estimated by a [15N]-isotope dilution technique: effect of dietary fat type and xylanase addition

Male broilers were given a low protein diet (15.5% CP) spiked with [15N]H4HCO3 from day 12 to day 18 of age to label the endogenous N-constituents. Experimental diets were subsequently fed from day 19 to day 24 of age and consisted of a rye based diet (56% dietary inclusion) which contained either 10% soya oil (S) or 10% beef tallow (T), each of which was either unsupplemented (-) or supplemented (+) with a xylanase containing enzyme preparation (2700 IU/kg at pH 5.3). [15N]-atom percent excess (APE) of excreta, faeces and urine were monitored on a daily basis during both experimental periods. Furthermore, APE was measured in various tissues at the end of the experiment. The APE of urine on the last day of the experiment was between the APE of the pancreas and that of the jejunal tissue, an observation which supported the usefulness of using urinary APE as an indicator for the endogenous N-pool. Endogenous N-proportions were estimated by an isotope dilution technique at the end of the experiment by examination of the ratio of APE in faeces and urine. The endogenous N-proportion in the faeces was greatest in birds receiving the T(-) diet. The proportions were 0.321, 0.319, 0.451 and 0.289 in S(-), S(+), T(-) and T(+) fed groups, respectively. Xylanase addition reduced endogenous N-proportion, a factor which was used to correct apparent crude protein digestibility (85.6, 86.2, 84.3 and 88.5% in S(-), S(+), T(-) and T(+) fed birds, respectively) for endogenous losses resulting in almost equal true digestibilities of crude protein for all treatments (90.3, 90.6, 90.4 and 91.5%). The amounts of endogenous N in faces were estimated to be 87, 69, 244 and 81 mg per day per kg0.67 body weight in S(-), S(+), T(-) and T(+) fed birds, respectively. It was concluded that xylanase supplementation of a rye based broiler diet does not change endogenous N-secretions when the supplemental fat is soya oil. However, addition of tallow rather than soya oil increased these N-losses significantly, an effect which was reversed by xylanase addition.

[Determination of the protein quality of food and animal feed]

The estimated value of true digestibility of food and feed proteins is in dependence from the excretion of metabolic faecal nitrogen (MFN). Results of many authors showed that a high fibre content of the diet increase the MFN-excretion and lower the true digestibility of the diet protein. The exact estimation of MFN is only possible with isotopic methods. The labelling of feed proteins with isotopic nitrogen (15N) is possible in experiments with small animals. In big animals (pigs) the utilization of recycled 15N is too high following the long transit time of non digested 15N-labelled feed protein and the parallel 15N-labelling of MFN. The best method for the estimation of true digestibility of proteins is the method with 15N-labelled animals and the differentiation between nonlabelled undigested feed protein and the 15N-labelled MFN in faeces. The estimation of digestibility of essential amino acids at the end of the ileum as a measure for protein quality is not in advantage because the bacterial breakdown and synthesis of amino acids in the small intestine is unknown. The estimation of the biological value (BV) of proteins with the classical method is useful when the exact MFN was determined. The classic formula of BV [formula: see text] is only applicable in experiments with growing animals with nitrogen retention. This result of BV value is in agreement with the method only valid for growing animals with N-retention and not for animals or human beings in maintenance. The measurement of a BV of proteins with animals in maintenance is possible when the animals are labelled with 15N. The 15N-loss of the animal after the feeding of different protein sources is the smallest when the amino acid pattern of the protein is adapted to the need of amino acids for the maintenance metabolism of the animal. It was found that proteins with a high content of glutamic and aspartic acid (proteins of grains) are better proteins for the maintenance metabolism as animal proteins. Measurements with the method of the oxydation rate of essential amino acids showed that the amino acid pattern of wheat protein is in agreement with the need of amino acids for maintenance of the adult men. The evaluation of protein quality in animal nutrition for growing or lactating monogastric animals is in the present time the balance of essential amino acids in the feed protein and the need of this amino acids of the animals.

[Kinetic parameters of protein metabolism in rats on protein-free diets]

16 male rats of 100 g live weight were given 50 mg of a mixture containing 15N labelled amino acids as a single dose within a protein-free feeding period. Following this the 15N excretion in faeces and urine as well as the development of the 15N excess in different organs and tissues were estimated over 3 days by slaughtering the animals within given 7 time intervals. Using a 3 pool model and the computer program for the interpretation of 15N tracer experiments by Töwe et al. (1984), kinetic parameters such as the rate of protein synthesis, protein breakdown and the rate of reutilization were calculated. Despite a negative N balance (-41.8 mg N/d) under protein-free conditions the protein metabolism of the rat shows high dynamics characterized by a high flux rate (225 mg N/d) and a high rate of body protein synthesis (181 mg/d). The reutilization was 85%. Depending on time the 15N excess in the tested organs and tissues showed significant differences and seems to demonstrate that under these conditions protein synthesis mainly takes place in the most important organs (e.g. intestinal tract, liver). Under protein-free feeding conditions protein synthesis and protein breakdown of the whole body seems to be slightly increased in comparison to N balanced feeding conditions.

Estimation of the endogenous N proportions in ileal digesta and faeces in 15N-labelled pigs

Four 40 kg castrated male pigs fitted with simple 'T' cannulas in the terminal ileum were given 15N-labelled ammonium salts, added to a low protein diet, for 6 days. Excretion of 15N in urine and faeces was monitored daily throughout the labelling and subsequent experimental periods. During the experimental period the pigs were given a diet based on wheat and fish meal, supplemented with varying levels of partially hydrolysed straw meal to give crude fibre contents ranging from 40 to 132 g/kg. After adaptation to the particular levels of straw meal, faeces and ileal digesta were collected during successive 24 h periods. N digestibility values were determined by the chromic oxide ratio method. The retention of 15N labelled non-specific N was 0.46 of the dose given. The validity of using urine values as a measure of 15N abundance in endogenous N was demonstrated by the similarity of 15N abundance in urine immediately before slaughter at the end of the experiment and in the digestive secretory organs thereafter. The average amount of endogenous N passing the terminal ileum was 3.4 g/day or 0.30-0.50 of total ileal N flow. This was not affected by dietary fibre level. The proportion of faecal N which was of endogenous origin was similar to that in ileal digesta, suggesting similar utilization of endogenous and residual dietary N by hindgut bacteria. Half the endogenous N entering the large intestine was reabsorbed there. Increasing dietary crude fibre from 40 to 132 g/kg increased faecal endogenous N excretion from 1.3 to 2.0 g/animal and day.

[Advances in possibilities for protein evaluation]

With protein evaluation the changing abilities of food proteins are characterized with regard to their covering the requirements of the organism for protein or amino acids, respectively. The biological value of proteins is influenced by several factors. Measuring the reaction of the whole organism (of man or animal) to the food protein the sum of all influencing factors is covered. Hence, these direct evaluation methods have priority. The general dose-reaction curve demonstrates the direct evaluation methods: The evaluation criteria protein efficiency or minimum protein requirement are presented and the different possibilities of interpretion are compared. Most direct evaluation methods are performed with suboptimal protein supply, therefore values for an optimum protein supply can be derived only with reservation. Improved values for protein evaluation can be obtained from investigations of the protein metabolism. With that the substrat-related evaluation can be more orientated to a organism-related one. Indirect biochemical evaluation methods are less important. That does not concern in-vitro evaluation by amino-acid analysis and/or in-vitro digestibility tests. Possibilities and limits of these methods are discussed.

[Action of proteinase inhibitors. 4. Effect of short-term application of chymostatin on nitrogen metabolism in the digestive tract and protein metabolism in tissue]

Chymostatin is an effective inhibitor of intracellular proteinases in vitro. In the present experiment male rats were injected intraperitonealy during a 3 days period twice daily with a solution containing 0,9 mg Chymostatin per 100 g live weight. Reference animals received a control injection containing the same solvents but no chymostatin. During this period a daily nitrogen balance was made and metabolic faecal nitrogen and true digestibility of nitrogen were estimated using 15N-labelled animals. Furthermore, apparent biological half lives of proteins in liver and intestinal tissues were determined following the decay curves for radioactivity in proteins 48 hours after injection of L-[5-3H]-arginine und L-[guanido-14C]-arginine. The fractional rate of protein synthesis in tissues was measured by a 6 hours continuous infusion technique with L-[U-14C]-tyrosine and L-[U-14C]-leucine. Among the parameters estimated only the apparent biological half lives of proteins in liver and intestinal tissues were influenced by chymostatin. However, the prolonged half lives seemed to be rather an effect of an increased reutilisation of amino acids resulting from the intracellular protein breakdown than a decreased rate of protein degradation. The in vivo effect of the proteinase inhibitor was by far inferior compared with the action in vitro. Factors like distribution, degradation and excretion of the inhibitor could be responsible for the moderate in vivo action of chymostatin.

[Examination of protein digestibility in individual intestinal segments under in vivo conditions in experimental rats by the isotope dilution method]

Test rats were labelled with 15N over a period of 7 days and killed on the 12th day. 220 min. before they were killed the diet was changed (wheat diet leads to whole egg diet) and they were given a 14C-leucine injection. The 15N-labelling of the digesta proved to be suitable for the determination of the digestibility of the feed proteins in the individual sections of the intestines. If the atom-% 15N-excess of the TCA-soluble fraction of the digesta is = 100%, the resulting digestibility of the protein fraction (TCA-precipitable fraction) corresponds to the 15N-dilution of the unlabelled feed protein. The following digestibility values were ascertained: (formula; see text) The calculation method suggested here cannot be applied to the large intestine because microbial activity influences the quotients. 14C-labelling was also insufficient for gathering statements on the digestibility of proteins.

[Dependence of intestinal excretion of amino acids on the amino acid content of animal feed. 2. Intestinal excretion of amino acids feeding soybean oil meal]

In an experiment with 20 15N-labelled growing rats the excretion of amino acids and the excretion of metabolic faecal amino acids were investigated after the feeding of soybean oil meal as sole protein source. A low, yet statistically significant increase of the excretion of amino acids and metabolic faecal amino acids was ascertained in accordance with a growing quota of soybean oil meal in the ration. The true digestibility of amino acids ascertained according to conventional methods is above 90% and, under consideration of the increase of metabolic faecal amino acids, on average increases by 3.5 digestibility units (1.4 to 6.2).

[A new method for testing the quality of food proteins for maintenance metabolism. 4. Testing of isolated proteins as well as various protein sources of plant and animal origin]

Male adult rats (370 g body weight) were fed on maintenance level (460 kJ ME/kg 0,75). In a 10 days preliminary period they received a casein/methionin diet (95,5 W/W) supplemented with 10 mg N-15-excess per 0,178 kg metabolic body weight in form of ammonium acetate. Thereafter the animals were changed on 8 isonitrogenous diets containing as protein sources casein, soya protein, gelatine, whole egg, fish meal, pea, wheat and yeast. The N-15-excretion via urine and faeces 6th and 10th day after the end of labelling period was used to evaluate the dietary proteins for maintenance. N-15 in urine was lowest in animals fed with the wheat diet and highest after feeding the whole egg diet. From these data a so called "N-15-excretions BV" was calculated, which indicated the highest quality for wheat and soy protein in meeting the needs of the intermediary metabolism in maintenance. On the other hand, dietary protein sources influence the loss of endogenous nitrogen as metabolic faecal nitrogen (MFN). It was found to be lowest in animals fed with diets containing isolated proteins (6 mg MFN/100 g body weight) and highest after feeding protein sources of plant origin with a high content in crude fibre (10 mg MFN/100 g). Both, losses of N-15 via urine and via feces were combined in a parameter called "total BV". According to this parameter the differences in quality for maintenance were only little between the protein sources testet (casein 100, soy protein 100, pea 99, wheat 99, whole egg 92, fish meal 89, gelatin 89). It was concluded that in maintenance the supply with indispensable amino acids is not critical and that the supply with dispensable amino acids (or nonspecific nitrogen) is of great importance.

[A new method for testing the quality of food proteins for maintenance metabolism. 3. Methodological studies of 15N-labeled adult rats]

Experiments were made in order to estimate the optimum amount of daily N-15-application and the optimum period for labelling adult rats in maintenance conditions with N-15-ammonium acetate. Labelling periods of 7 and 10 days were combined with 10 or 30 mg N-15-excess per day and 0,178 kg0,75. N-15-label in urine growth to a plateau within 3--4 days during N-15-feeding. After omitting N-15 from the diet the N-15-label declined rapidly and reached again a relative stable value within 3 to 4 days. The curve pattern for N-15-label in faeces was similar, however, with a time lag of about 24 hours. The ratio between N-15-label in faeces was similar, however, with a time lag of about 24 hours. The ratio between N-15-label in urine and faeces was constant from the 6th to 10th day after the labelling period. Therefore, this period should be used for the estimation of metabolic faecal nitrogen on the basis of N-15-label of nitrogen in faeces and N-15-label of endogenous nitrogen secreted into the gastrointestinal tract. Both, N-15-label of urine and N-15-label of TCA-soluble fraction of plasma can be used as a indicator of the N-15-label of endogenous faecal nitrogen. But, from methodical point of view urine seems to be more convenient. Among the variants of labelling tested the best was found to be a 10 days period with 10 mg N'--15/0,178 kg0,75 daily.

[Dependence of metabolic fecal amino acids on the amino acid content of the feed. 1. Metabolic fecal amino acids of rats fed with maize]

The amount of metabolic fecal amino acids (MFAA) in dependence on the amino acid intake was determined for graded maize rations with 15N-labelled rats and the quota of labelled endogenous amino acids in faeces was calculated according to the isotope dilution method. The excretion of amino acids and MFAA in faeces are described as functions of the amino acid intake for 17 amino acids and regressively calculated. For all 17 amino acids investigated, there was a more or less steep increase of MFAA according to an increasing amino acid intake. In contrast to MFAA in N-free feeding, MFAA in feeding with pure maize (16.5% crude protein) increase to the 2- to 4.5-fold value. The thesis of the constancy of the excretion of MFAA can consequently be no longer maintained. The true digestibility according to the conventional method is, on an average of all amino acids, 7.3 units below the one ascertained according to the 15N-isotope method. For the limiting amino acids lysine and threonine the difference is biggest (23 resp. 17 units). Tryptophane as first limiting amino acid could not be determined. The true digestibility of nearly all amino acids ascertained for maize according to the isotope method is above 90%. For the limiting amino acids the expenditure resp. the loss of endogenous amino acids is biggest.

[Investigations of the connection between the quality of protein, the protein level and endogenous N-excretion]

The influence of various protein qualities as well as of different levels of protein on the amount of endogenous N-excretion, metabolic fecal nitrogen (MFN) and endogenous urinary N (EUN) was determined at growing albino rats. The test rations were labelled with admixtures of 15N-DL-methionine resp. 15N-DL-lysine or contained feed protein enriched with 15N. EUN and MFN and their sum (the N maintenance requirement) showed the influence of the respective protein source and its dependence on the protein level. The endogenous N-excretions showed an opposite tendency to the N-balance; for high-quality protein feedstuffs with a high N-balance (e.g. dried eggs) they are lower than for protein source of inferior quality, with a low N-balance only (e.g. wheat gluten). Presumably this interaction of retention and maintenance is due to the complementary effect of exogenous and endogenous amino acids in the N-resp. amino acid-pool. Provided that the N-dose and the liver weight of the animals are comparable, the N-balance appears to be more suitable as parameter for the description of the protein quality and the calculation of the protein utilisation than N-retention, as the sum of N-balance and the values of MFN and EUN (depending on the feedstuffs and the N-level).

[Protein digestibility and amino acid absorption in various segments of the digestive tract of pigs. 5. Results of the application of 35S-methionine]

The intake, excretion and the rate of flow of protein, methionine and 35S were measured at four pigs (live weight 63 kg) with re-entrant cannulae in the duodenum and the ileocecal region after the oral application of 35S-methionine and the feeding with a wheat + wheat gluten + lysine resp. a protein-free diet over a period of 7 days. From the measured values one pattern each for the N- and the methionine metabolism was laid down with the help of the compartment model, and the endogenous and exogenous levels of protein resp. methionine in the duodenum, the ileum and in feces were estimated.