Nitrogen metabolism in bears: urea metabolism in summer starvation and in winter sleep and role of urinary bladder in water and nitrogen conservation

Abstract

Three bears were studied under conditions of (1) no food but access to water for 2 weeks and (2) no food or water for 3 weeks. During starvation in summer, the bears could not inhibit the net production of urea but used lean body mass; when denied access to water as well, the bears became dehydrated and azotemic. Urea was continuously formed and degraded in the winter. Arginase activity in liver increased in winter sleep; hepatic steatosis and inflammatory reactions were also noted. The urinary bladder readsorbed labeled urea and D20 in winter; the rate of absorption of urea was equal to the rate of excretion of it into the bladder. The ability to preserve lean body mass during winter sleep apparently is a special mechanism associated with the induction of winter sleep. Bears cannot duplicate this feat during summertime starvation. In winter sleep, urea is formed and degraded but the nitrogen produced is conserved in some manner that maintains the total nitrogen pool constant. The urinary bladder plays a central role in maintaining the state of winter sleep by absorbing water and solute at a rate equal to their entry into the urinary bladder.