Urea Supply Research Articles

Enzymes of urea synthesis are expressed at the ocular surface, and decreased urea in the tear fluid is associated with dry-eye syndrome

The present study aims at determining whether enzymes of urea synthesis are expressed in the human lacrimal gland and in tissues of ocular surface (conjunctiva, cornea), to give evidence for the hypothesis that urea can be locally formed from ocular tissues and is important for the composition of the tear fluid. The presences of enzymes (arginase 1, 2 and agmatinase) that directly contribute to the formation of urea were investigated in the lacrimal gland and tissues of ocular surface by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. We collected tear fluid, aqueous humour, and blood samples from a total of 38 subjects, and tear fluid samples from a total of 78 subjects, with and without dry-eye syndrome (DES, keratoconjunctivitis sicca), and determined the urea concentration. The enzymes arginase 1, 2 and agmatinase were expressed in all tissues examined except for arginase 1, which was not expressed in the cornea. There was no correlation of urea concentration in tear fluid with aqueous humour and blood plasma (r = 0.13, p = 0.58 and r = 0.45, p = 0.05 respectively). However, correlation of urea concentration between aqueous humour and blood plasma was highly significant (r = 0.7, p = 0.0001). The concentration of urea in the tear fluid of patients with DES compared to healthy control group was significantly reduced (p < 0.0001). Enzymes that are directly involved in the formation of urea are expressed in ocular tissues. This may imply that in the ocular surface is a well-coordinated system of enzymes that can produce urea which might be independent of external urea supply.

A physiological and molecular study of the effects of nickel deficiency and phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD) application on urea metabolism in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

Urea is the major nitrogen (N) form supplied as fertilizer in agriculture. However, urease, a nickel-dependent enzyme, allows plants to use external or internally generated urea as a nitrogen source. Since a urease inhibitor is frequently applied in conjunction with urea fertilizer, the N-metabolism of plants may be affected. The aim of this study was to determine physiological and molecular effects of nickel deficiency and a urease inhibitor on urea uptake and assimilation in oilseed rape. Plants were grown on hydroponic solution with urea as the sole N source under three treatments: plants treated with nickel (+Ni) as a control, without nickel (−Ni) and with nickel and phenylphosphorodiamidate (+Ni+PPD). Urea transport and assimilation were investigated. The results show that Ni-deficiency or PPD supply led to reduced growth and reduced 15N-uptake from urea. This effect was more pronounced in PPD-treated plants, which accumulated high amounts of urea and ammonium. Thus, Ni-deficiency or addition of PPD, limit the availability of N and decreased shoot and root amino acid content. The up-regulation of BnDUR3 in roots indicated that this gene is a component of the stress response to nitrogen-deficiency. A general decline of glutamine synthetase (GS) activity and activation of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and increases in its expression level were observed in control plants. At the same time, in (−N) or (+Ni+PPD) treated plants, no increases in GS or GDH activities and expression level were found. Overall results showed that plants require Ni as a nutrient (while most widely used nutrient solutions are devoid of Ni), whether they are grown with or without a urea supply, and that urease inhibitors may have deleterious effects at least in hydroponic grown oilseed rape.

Urea Fertilizer for Bangladesh Challenges and Opportunity

The outlook for Urea Fertilizer at present and in coming years for Bangladesh-is a very much concerned issue and studied in the paper. The urea production vs. design capacity of all Fertilizer Plants and consumption has been shown. Main constraint for reduced urea production is identified as Natural gas shortage. To meet countries demand, the possibility of import from global urea supply and its impact on economy is also studied. Analyzing all the above; support to Urea Fertilizer factories- to ensure food security of the country - has been emphasized. Daily Natural Gas requirement for maintaining urea production is estimated. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jce.v26i1.10177 JCE 2011; 26(1): 22-26

Fontes alternativas à ureia no fornecimento de nitrogênio para o arroz irrigado

A ureia é a principal fonte de N usada na agricultura, mas apresenta grandes perdas em arroz irrigado por alagamento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência de fontes de N alternativas à ureia para utilização pelo arroz irrigado aplicadas em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento da planta através da quantificação da volatilização de N-NH3 e de parâmetros agronômicos. O experimento foi realizado em campo nos anos agrícolas 2007/08 e 2008/09. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram compostos de diferentes fontes de N aplicados na semeadura, no perfilhamento e no estádio de diferenciação floral: testemunha sem aplicação de N, ureia, ureia+inibidor de urease, duas fontes de N líquido (N-28 e N- 30), sulfato de amônio e ureia + enxofre. Nas duas safras, a volatilização de N-NH3 na semeadura foi praticamente insignificante, enquanto no estádio V4 a fonte que menos volatilizou foi o sulfato de amônio. A resposta em produtividade variou entre os anos, provavelmente em função da disponibilidade de N no solo e aspectos climáticos. Quando vantajoso economicamente, o uso do inibidor de urease e o sulfato de amônio proporcionam produtividades semelhantes à fonte ureia.

Investigations on the effect of forage source, grinding, and urea supplementation on ruminal fermentation and microbial protein flow in a semi-continuous rumen simulation system

The objective of the present study was to compare the effect of maize silage and grass silage on microbial fermentation and protein flow in a semi-continuous rumen simulation system (Rusitec) when milling screen size (MSS) during grinding was varied. Oven-dried silages were milled through screens of 1, 4 or 9 mm pore size and incubated for 48 h in a Rusitec system. Furthermore, the effect of N supplementation to maize silage (MSS: 4 mm) was investigated and single dose vs. continuous infusion of urea-N were compared. Degradation of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), fibre fractions and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) as well as short-chain fatty acid production differed significantly between forage sources. Urea-N supplementation improved the degradation of NSC, but not that of fibre fractions in maize silage. The way of urea supply had only marginal effects on fermentation characteristics. An increase in MSS, and consequently in mean feed particle size, led to an improvement in the degradation of OM, CP and NSC, but efficiency of microbial net protein synthesis (EMPS; mg microbial N flow/g degraded OM) and the microbial amino acid profile were less affected. EMPS was higher in grass silage than in maize silage and was improved by urea-N supplementation in maize silage. This study indicates that fermentation of NSC as well as EMPS during incubation of maize silage was limited by availability of NH3-N. Furthermore, an increase in MSS above 1 mm seems to improve fermentation of silages in the Rusitec system.

Nitrogen utilization by sulfur-deficient barley plants depends on the nitrogen form

Combined nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) fertilization positively influences yield and quality in cereal crops, and S additions can enhance N use efficiency. Previous studies showed that S deficiency leads to a particular strong decrease in nitrate reductase activity and in nitrate uptake relative to ammonium. We therefore tested the hypothesis whether N fertilization in the form of urea improves N utilization under S deficiency. When barley plants were grown on a S-deficient soil for seven weeks, N additions increased biomass and S concentrations in shoots of nitrate- and urea-supplied plants to the same extent. Under S deficiency nitrate-supplied plants accumulated more N in the form of nitrate and asparagine than urea-supplied plants. This supported the view that asparagine synthesis under S deficiency is induced under supply of nitrate but not or much less by urea. Hydroponically grown plants were then assayed for their nitrate and nitrite reductase activities in response to S supply. Nitrate reductase activity sharply decreased under limiting S supply, while nitrite reductase activity did not respond to S supply, indicating that nitrate reduction rather than nitrite reduction represents the S-limited assimilatory process. Thus, although nitrate reduction is particularly sensitive to S deficiency, urea supply did not improve growth and N efficiency under limited S availability but rather prevented an excess accumulation of asparagine.

Dietas com nitrogênio não-proteico para fêmeas bovinas superovuladas sem prévia adaptação durante curto tempo e em diferentes fases do ciclo estral

Objetivou-se neste estudo avaliar o efeito do fornecimento, sem prévia adaptação, durante curto tempo e em diferentes fases do ciclo estral, de dietas contendo nitrogênio não-proteico (NNP) na produção, na qualidade e no grau de desenvolvimento de embriões recuperados em fêmeas bovinas superovuladas. Sessenta e oito vacas Nelore foram distribuídas em três grupos: um controle e dois com fornecimento de ureia antes (UA = do dia -5 ao dia 0) e após (UD = dia 0 ao dia 5) a inseminação artificial. As vacas foram mantidas em pastagem e receberam concentrado (3,0 kg/animal/dia) durante 16 dias. Foram formulados dois concentrados, e as dietas totais (concentrado e consumo estimado de pastagem) apresentaram 12,0% (dieta controle) e 14,6% (dieta NNP) de proteína bruta (PB). As vacas foram sincronizadas, superovuladas e inseminadas. Sete dias (dia 7) após a inseminação (dia 0), realizou-se a colheita e análise dos embriões. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas nos dias -5, 0 e 5 para determinação da concentração de nitrogênio ureico plasmático (NUP), glicose, insulina e progesterona. A época de fornecimento de ureia influenciou as concentrações médias de NUP nos dias -5, 0 e 5, mas não tiveram efeito nas concentrações de glicose, insulina e progesterona. O período de fornecimento da ureia teve efeito na porcentagem de mórulas compactas em relação ao total de estruturas (UA = 51,4 vs. UD = 15,3%), em relação ao total de oócitos fecundados (UA = 62,5 vs. UD = 30,6%) e em relação ao total de embriões viáveis (UA = 68,8 vs. UD = 38,6%). No grupo que recebeu ureia depois da inseminação artificial, houve redução de 70,2% da proporção de mórulas compactas por total de estruturas em relação ao grupo que recebeu ureia antes da inseminação. Dietas com nitrogênio não-proteico fornecidas imediatamente após a inseminação promovem aceleração do desenvolvimento embrionário inicial.

Urea Use Efficiency of Hydroponically Grown Maize and Wheat

ABSTRACT Maize and wheat were grown hydroponically with the same total nitrogen (N) level for three weeks, to evaluate the impact on plant growth and metabolism of three nitrogen sources: urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate. Maize growth was not strongly affected. In contrast, in wheat, growth was highest under ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate nutrition, and lowest with the urea solution. Ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate treatments favored the shoot development whereas urea enhanced the root development. Urea supply led to a higher decrease of total nitrogen content in maize as compared to wheat. Constitutive amounts of urea were found in maize and wheat whatever the nitrogen nutrition. Nitrogen uptake efficiency of plants fed with urea decreased strongly compared to nitrate or ammonium fed-plants. Results showed that when provided as sole nitrogen source, urea supply has not the same effect on metabolism and growth in maize and wheat.

Impaired Urea Accumulation in the Inner Medulla of Mice Lacking the Urea Transporter UT-A2

Urea transporter UT-A2, the major urea transporter of the thin descending limb of the loop of Henle in short loop nephrons, has been implicated in urea recycling in the medulla, thereby producing concentrated urine. To investigate the physiological role of UT-A2 in vivo, we generated UT-A2-selective knockout mice by deleting the UT-A2 promoter. Western analysis, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR were used to confirm the specific deletion of UT-A2 with preservation of other UT-A transporters. Compared to wild-type mice, differences in the urine outputs of UT-A2(-/-) mice consuming a normal protein diet (20% protein) were not observed under normal conditions or with dehydration. Likewise, impairment of urea accumulation in the inner medulla of UT-A2(-/-) mice was not observed. On a low-protein diet (4% protein), however, significantly reduced maximal urine osmolality was observed in dehydrated UT-A2(-/-) mice compared to wild-type littermates (2,500 mosmol versus 3,450 mosmol, respectively). A significant reduction in urea accumulation in the inner medulla was also observed in UT-A2(-/-) mice; however, differences in Na(+) and Cl(-) accumulation were not observed. Thus, UT-A2 is important for maintaining a high concentration of urea in the inner medulla when urea supply to the kidney is limited.

Determination of urease activity in soils by carbon dioxide release for ecotoxicological evaluation of contaminated soils.

A method for the quantification of urease enzyme activity has been set up, which is based on the quantification of carbon dioxide set free into the head space of gastight vessels. The method can be applied for ecotoxicological characterisation of contaminated soil samples besides other methods like soil respiration measurements or nitrification inhibition tests. The sieved soil sample can be incubated under nearly natural conditions with an adjusted water content of about 50% of the water holding capacity. Ammonia or urea do not need to be extracted, since carbon dioxide release is correlated to urease activity. Thus carbon dioxide release is a direct result of urease activity which can be measured in the head space using gastight syringes and gaschromatographic equipment. The urease activity is determined by comparing the carbon dioxide release of incubation vessels with and without urea supply. The applicability of this method has been demonstrated by experiments with N-(n-butyl)phosphoric triamide (NBPT), copper ions and zinc ions as known inhibitors of urease activity.

Chemical fixation of ammonia to soil organic matter after application of urea

Chemical fixation of NH3 to soil organic matter was studied in two Swedish soils with different contents of organic matter: a clay soil with 2.3% C and an organic soil with 36.6% C. 15N‐labelled urea was applied at different rates to both sterilized and non‐sterilized soils. After 10 days, the soils were extracted and washed with K2SO4 and determined for total N and atom% 15N excess. Urea N was recovered as non‐extractable N in sterilized soil corresponding to 9.7% of supplied l5N‐labelled urea in the organic soil and 2.2% in the clay soil. Since no biological immobilization is thought to occur in the sterile soil, this non‐extractable N is suggested to be chemically fixed to soil organic matter. Owing to urea hydrolysis in the clay soil, pH increased from 6.3 to 9.3 and in the organic soil from 5.7 to 6.9 and 8.8, respectively, at the low and high urea supply.

A biotechnological valorization and treatment of olive mill waste waters by selected yeast strains

Olive mill waste waters were diluted to 1/10, supplied with 2% urea and inoculated with yeast strains. 20 yeast strains isolated from Olive Mill Waste (OMW) water were screened for their biomass production, GOD reduction and polyphenols bioconversion activities. Pure cultures of yeasts were realized in 100 ml erlen-meyer flasks. 50 ml cultures were used and the flasks were incubated at room temperature (22°G) on a shaker. Biomass production, COD (chemical oxygen demand) reduction and Polyphenols bioconversion were followed up in the inoculated OMW waters. Results showed that the urea supply improve significantly the biomass production relatively to the control. This reached in some assays 2.06% expressed as g of biomass dry weight per 100 mL of OMW water. Polyphenols removal was estimated to around 50% and the COD was decreased from 54.14 g/Kg to 21.56 g/Kg. This aerobic treatment lead to the biomass production and also to a pretreated efluent by the COD and the removal of the methanization inhibiting polyphenolic compounds.

Urea utilization by the intestinal flora, of infants fed mother's milk and a formula diet, as measured with the 15N-tracer technique.

15N-Incorporation by intestinal bacteria was measured under different feeding conditions in 16 infants after a single oral loading of 165 mg [15N2]urea X kg-1 body weight as a tracer. In five subjects on a mother's milk diet, the 15N-excess in the isolated intestinal bacteria was 1.08 (0.17-1.85) atom-%. The mean 15N-excess in the intestinal flora of five formula-fed subjects did not differ significantly from these values [0.63 (0.17-1.05) atom-%]. A trend to a higher incorporation of 15N from labeled urea by the intestinal flora was seen in four infants, who were adapted to an increased nutritional urea supply on a special formula, containing 14 g of milk protein, 80 g lactose, 36 g fat, and 0.35 g urea X L-1. The same observation was made in two infants with chronic renal failure. The incorporation of urea nitrogen by the putrefactive intestinal flora of infants on a formula diet as well as by the bifidobacterial flora of those on mother's milk feeding indicates the utilization of ureas as a source of bacterial protein and nucleic acid synthesis. The adaptive usage of urea for the bacterial metabolism can be considered as a sign of supportive detoxification by the intestinal flora.

Urea Utilization by the Intestinal Flora, of Infants Fed Mother's Milk and a Formula Diet, as Measured with the 15N‐Tracer Technique

15N‐Incorporation by intestinal bacteria was measured under different feeding conditions in 16 infants after a single oral loading of 165 165 mg [15N2]urea kg‐1 body weight as a tracer. In five subjects on a mother's milk diet, the 15N‐excess in the isolated intestinal bacteria was 1.08 (0.17–1.85) atom‐%. The mean 15N‐excess in the intestinal flora of five formula‐fed subjects did not differ significantly from these values [0.63 (0.17–1.05) atom‐%]. A trend to a higher incorporation of 15N from labelled lurea by the intestinal flora was seen in four infants, who were adapted to an incresed nutritional urea supply on a special formula, containing 14 g of milk protein, 80 g lactose, 36 g fat, and 0.35 g urea L‐1. The same observation was made in two infants with chronic renal failure. The incorporation of urea nitrogen by the putrefactive intestinal flora of infants on a formula diet as well as by the bifidobacterial flora of those on mother's milk feeding indicates the utilization of urea as a source of bacterial protein and nucleic acid synthesis. The adaptive usage of urea for the bacterial metabolism can be considered as a sign of supportive detoxification by the intestinal flora.

Urea supply from decomposition and excretion of zooplankton

Rates of urea supply from the decomposition and the excretion of zooplankton were determined for samples collected in Suruga Bay. Five species of Zooplankton were incubated in filtered seawater at 20‡C for 276 hrs after being forced to die in a refrigerator. More than 77.6 % of body nitrogen of the Zooplankton was liberated, except forEuphausia similis, which showed a lower decomposition rate of 53.0 %. In the liberated nitrogen. 4.8 to 9.8 % was determined as urea. Incubation experiments of two species of zooplankton at 13‡C during 12 hrs, showed that the organisms excreted 0.86 and 0.73Μg-at. N indi.−1 d−1 as total soluble nitrogen. Urea accounted for 8.3 and 6.8 % of the excreted total soluble nitrogen.