Levels of uric acid in the intestinal tracts of germfree, gnotobiotic, and conventional mice

The levels of uric acid in various segments of the intestinal tract of germfree, monoassociated, polyassociated, and conventional mice was determined by an enzymatic, spectrophotometric procedure. The amount of uric acid in the intestinal lumen of all mice was found to decrease as the content moved down the tract. Although uric acid was detected in the distal portions of the tracts of germfree mice, none was found in the cecum or large intestine of mice that were associated with bacteria.