ANBI 360.3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Taurine, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Urea Cycle
20 Jun 2018
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LECTURE 22!
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Protein and amino acids!
cats have a higher requirement for protein!•
there are several essential amino acids!•
PVT TIM HALL + Taurine for cats!•
cats need more of several amino acids in comparison to other domesticated species!•
Arg!◦
The!◦
Lue!◦
...!◦
why do cats have such a high requirement for Arginine!•
cats use protein as an energy source!◦
catabolism of protein for energy requires deamination of amino acids, producing ammonia!◦
ammonia is extremely toxic and must be covered to urea in mammals and excreted in the ◦
urine!
cats require arginine to produce urea!◦
arginine high in red meat and fish!◦
urea Cycle!•
Ammonia is transported to the kidney and converted to urea!◦
this involves a cycle linked to the kerb`s cycle!◦
arginine is an intermediate in the urea cycle!◦
in most mammals, the urea cycle is unregulated by the synthesis of arginine!◦
arginine defieceny in cats!•
arginine deficiency in cats is very dramatic, but rare!◦
causes hyperammonianemia in less than 1 hour and can lead to death in 2-5 hours!◦
cats can't make arginine to up regulate the urea cycle, so ammonia bids in the blood!◦
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sulphur containing amino acids in cats : Met and Cys!
cats have a higher requirement for S-amino acids than other mammals!•
they produce a compound called feminine in the kidneys!•
feminine is secreted in the urine and gives cats urine its characteristic pungent odour!•
intact males secrete 95mg/d feminine, compared to 20mg/d secreted by females and •
castrated males!
!
Taurine required by cats!
taurine is essential for cats!•
other species can synthesize it from Met and Cys!•
important in bile acid cognition, membrane stabilization and modulation of cellular Ca levels!•
not present in plants!•
Taurine deficiency!
deficiency can cause numerous diseases including!•
retinal degeneration cause blindness!◦
hearing loss, impaired nervous function!◦
feline dilated cardiomyopathy!◦
impaired reproduction and fetal development!◦
effects of taurine deficiency on the heart!•
cats may pant and heart may have a pronounced thump!◦
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