This book describes the effect of ammonia, a by-product of Glutamine metabolism on the apoptotic machinery during the absences of glutamine. supplemented with ammonium salts, Gln-deprived Sp2/0 cell cultures showed a significant increase in viability. This effect of ammonium salts was independent of the cells' ability to synthesize Gln. ammonium salts caused a significant reduction in the number of Glnstarved Sp2/0 cells with apoptotic nuclear condensation and fragmentation.