Ability of Arginine to Reverse the Growth Depression Induced by Supplementing a Crystalline Amino Acid Diet with Excess Lysine

In a prior report it was demonstrated that a crystalline amino acid diet, capable of supporting excellent weight gain (14gm./chick/day) during the period 8–14 days of age, could be readily imbalanced by excess lysine (Dean and Scott, 1966). The ease with which this could be accomplished was not anticipated since the diet contains the equivalent of 17.7% protein (N × 6.25) and is believed not to be limiting in any one amino acid or total nitrogen. It has generally been accepted that the imbalance effect can best be demonstrated when the diet is low in total protein and limiting in an amino acid other than the one used to induce the imbalance. The data submitted by Dean and Scott (1966) show that supplementing the crystalline amino acid diet with 1% lysine depressed weight gain 44%. We are presenting at this time the results of assays conducted during the same . . .