Ornithine decarboxylase expression in the small intestine of broilers submitted to feed restriction and glutamine supplementation

Abstract

Six hundred and forty one-day-old Cobb male broilers were used to evaluate ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) expression in the mucosa of the small intestine. Birds were submitted to early feed restriction from 7 to 14 days of age. The provided feed was supplemented with glutamine. A completely randomized design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement was used (with or without glutamine, with or without feed restriction). Restricted-fed birds were fed at 30% the amount of the ad libitum fed group from 7 to 14 days of age. Glutamine was added at the level of 1% in the diet supplied from 1 to 28 days of age. Protein concentration in the small intestine mucosa was determined, and ODC expression at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of age was evaluated by dot blotting. ODC was present in the mucosa of broilers, and the presence of glutamine in the diet increased ODC activation. Glutamine prevented mucosa atrophy by stimulating protein synthesis, and was effective against the effects of feed restriction. Dot blotting can be used to quantify ODC expression in the intestinal mucosa of broilers

Glutamine and Glutamic Acid Supplementation Enhances Performance of Broiler Chickens Under the Hot and Humid Tropical Condition

“…The benefit of Gln supplementation has been associated with a better development of the gastrointestinal tract. Chickens supplemented with 1% Gln have longer VH and deeper CH (Fischer da Silva et al, 2007;Murakami et al, 2007;Soltan, 2009). The increased VH and CD due to AG supplementation is an important finding because the gastrointestinal tract is particularly sensitive to environmental stressors, which may induce various changes including decreased integrity of the intestinal epithelium (Meddings and Swain, 2000).…”

“…Glutamine (Gln) is an abundant amino acid in the body and is regarded as a conditionally essential nutrient in animals under stress conditions, such as infection, injury, high temperature and weaning (Murakami et al, 2007;Souba et al, 1990;Wu et al, 1995;Soltan, 2009;Dai et al, 2009;Fischer da Silva et al, 2007;Bartell and Batal, 2007). Dietary supplementation of Gln has been reported to play an important role in preserving gut integrity in rodents (Larson et al, 2007) and pigs (Wu et al, 1996).…”

Heat Stress Directly Affects Intestinal Integrity in Broiler Chickens

“…On the other hand, feed restriction and fasting also affect the structure of the intestinal mucosa because feed ingredients contain compounds that directly stimulate growth of this tissue. Feed restriction may induce atrophy of the intestinal mucosa in mammals ( Song et al , 2009 ) and birds ( Palo et al , 1995 ; Fischer et al , 2007 ; Silva et al , 2009 ). As such, fasting, even for a limited period, may interfere with intestinal epithelial cell synthesis and negatively affect the bird's growth.…”

The effects of L-Arginine supplementation on growth performance and intestinal health of broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria spp.

“…Furthermore, Arg is, indirectly, the precursor of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine through L-ornithine and agmatine. Putrescine can be formed virtually in all tissues, including intestinal cells of poultry, via Arg-ornithine-putrescine pathway that is catalyzed by the enzymes arginase and ornithine decarboxylase ( Tabor and Tabor, 1984 ; Fischer da Silva et al., 2007 ). Alternatively, putrescine can be synthesized in the Arg–agmatine—putrescine pathway, which includes the enzymes arginine decarboxylase and agmatinase ( Horyn et al., 2005 ).…”