Large profit losses in the swine industry can be attributed to morbidity and mortality of piglets before weaning, especially in the low birth weight (LBW) piglet. Recent evidence suggests sow's milk contains insufficient concentrations of Arg to support optimal growth and health of piglets. Therefore, our objective was to assess global metabolomic profiles and the potential for Arg supplementation to promote growth of LBW (≤0.9 kg BW) and average birth weight (ABW; 1.3 to 1.5 kg BW) piglets. Piglets were selected in littermate pairs at processing to receive either Arg or an isonitrogenous control (Ala) and weighed daily to assess growth rate, and blood was collected at approximately 16 d of age for metabolomics analysis. In terms of growth, LBW and ABW piglets supplemented with Arg weighed 22.3 and 12.7% less, respectively, at d 16 compared with Ala-supplemented piglets of the same birth weight group. Overall, differences ( < 0.05) were observed among treatments for metabolic pathways involving energy (i.e., tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates), AA, nucleotides, and fatty acids. Increased nucleotide turnover, indicative of an increase in DNA damage and cell death, was particularly noted in the LBW piglet. However, Arg supplementation reduced these effects to levels comparable to those observed in ABW piglets. Moreover, changes in glucose metabolism suggested a compromised ability to extract energy from dietary sources may have occurred in the LBW piglet, but these effects were partially recovered by Arg supplementation. We conclude that a reduction in the growth potential of LBW piglets may be associated with alterations in multiple metabolic pathways, and further reduction due to Arg supplementation may have resulted from perturbations in multiple metabolic pathways.
Human infants born small for their gestational age (SGA), as associated with intrauterine growth restriction, are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality during early life and beyond. As an animal model, the domestic piglet (Sus scrofa) provides many benefits for studying developmental aspects of the SGA condition. Our objective was to assess global metabolomic profiles of SGA (≤ 0.9kg body weight) and average for gestational age (AGA, 1.3–1.5kg body weight) piglets. Piglets were selected in littermate pairs, weighed daily to assess growth rate, and blood was collected at 15–17 days of age; piglets remained with their mother throughout the study. Following stringent quality assurance procedures on multiple analytical platforms, a total of 323 named biochemicals were identified in plasma samples, with significant effects noted in metabolic pathways involving energy (i.e., TCA cycle), amino acids, nucleotides, and fatty acids. Most notably, de novo synthesis of nicotinamide derivatives was higher (P < 0.05) in SGA piglets, suggesting a deficiency in cofactors important for energy metabolism and biosynthetic reactions. Moreover, changes in glucose metabolism suggested the ability to extract energy from dietary sources may have been compromised in the SGA piglet. We conclude that a significant reduction in the growth potential of SGA piglets is associated with perturbations in multiple metabolic pathways.ACES James Scholar Honors Program, College of ACES, University of Illinois, Urbana‐Champaign
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