Effect of dietary supplementation with glutamine and a combination of glutamine-arginine on intestinal health in twenty-five-day-old weaned rabbits1

Abstract

The effect of dietary supplementation with 1% l-glutamine and a combination of 1% l-glutamine and 0.5% l-arginine on intestinal health was examined in weaned rabbits. A basal diet was formulated to meet nutrient recommendations. Another 2 diets were formulated by adding 1% (as-fed basis) Gln or a mixture of 1% (as-fed basis) Gln + 0.5% (as-fed basis) Arg (Gln-Arg) to the basal diet. In Exp. 1, a total of 357 rabbits were blocked by litter and assigned at random to the experimental diet to determine mortality (119 per diet) and growth performance (35 per diet; from weaning at 25 to 56 d of age). Rabbits were fed the experimental diets for a 2-wk period and thereafter received a commercial diet. Rabbits weaned at 25 d (blocked by litter and assigned at random to diets) were slaughtered at 35 d and used to determine apparent ileal digestibility of DM, CP, and AA (Exp. 2, a total of 60 rabbits), intestinal morphology, N-aminopeptidase and myeloperoxidase intestinal activity, the expression of PPARgamma at the ileum and kidney, serum immunoglobulin in healthy and sick rabbits (Exp. 3, a total of 24 rabbits), and ileal and cecal microbial composition by PCR-RFLP (Exp. 4, a total of 45 rabbits). Dietary treatment did not affect ADG, ADFI, or G:F, during the entire fattening period. Supplementation with Gln reduced mortality during the first 2 wk and the whole fattening period from 18.5 to 8.4% (P = 0.023) and from 31.9 to 20.2% (P = 0.039), respectively, whereas no effect was detected for Arg supplementation. Among all the variables studied, the reduction on mortality due to Gln was related to a reduced intestinal colonization (Eimeria lesions) and changes on microbial ecosystem in the ileum and cecum, reducing the frequency of detection of Clostridium spp. (from 86.7 to 33.3%, P = 0.003) at the ileum, and Helicobacter spp. at the ileum (from 86.7 to 46.7%, P = 0.003) and at the cecum (from 86.7 to 46.7, P = 0.028), whereas no effect was detected for Arg supplementation. In conclusion, 1% l-Gln supplementation to postweaned rabbit diets decreased fattening mortality and modified the intestinal microbiota (although no consistent effects were observed on mucosal histology or inflammatory and systemic immune response). Diets containing a combination of 1% Gln and 0.5% Arg were of little additional benefit.

Effect of decreasing dietary protein level and replacing starch with soluble fibre on digestive physiology and performance of growing rabbits

“…Little and contradictory data are available concerning the effect of the protein level on the intestinal mucosa traits in rabbits. Nor the changes in dietary CP concentration or the dietary supplementation with specific amino acids (glutamine and arginine; Chamorro et al, 2010), which may directly promote gastrointestinal integrity, modified mucosal histology of early-weaned rabbits. On the basis of current knowledge, we could hypothesise that the CP level and the concentration and characteristics of dietary fibre interact and modify both the amount of undigested protein reaching the caecum and the contribution of the endogenous nitrogen to the total ileal flux (García et al, 1995;Carabañ o et al, 2009).…”

Response to weaning and dietary l-glutamine supplementation: metabolomic analysis in piglets by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

“…The importance of Gln under hypermetabolic states, including those which occur during weaning, is now firmly established Marc Rhoads and Wu, 2009). Dietary Gln supplementation prevents intestinal atrophy, and improves nutrient digestion and utilization in early weaning animals (Young and Ajami, 2001;Chamorro et al, 2010). Intestinal microbiota and blood amino acid concentrations were modified by Gln treatment in postweaned animals (Wu et al, 1996;Chamorro et al, 2010).…”

“…Recent years have witnessed Gln playing an essential role in early weaned animals (Wu et al, 1996;Wang et al, 2008;Chamorro et al, 2010). In the current study, dietary Gln supplementation increased the serum concentrations of creatinine, palmitelaidic acid, D-xylose, α-L-galactofuranose, and 2-hydroxybutanoic acid.…”

“…Dietary Gln supplementation prevents intestinal atrophy, and improves nutrient digestion and utilization in early weaning animals (Young and Ajami, 2001;Chamorro et al, 2010). Intestinal microbiota and blood amino acid concentrations were modified by Gln treatment in postweaned animals (Wu et al, 1996;Chamorro et al, 2010). However, the interaction between metabolism and weaning or dietary Gln treatment, performed as a network, is a complex process involving multi-organ physiology and different levels of regulation, from genes to proteins and metabolites (Marc Rhoads and Wu, 2009).…”

Effect of dietary isoleucine on the immunity, antioxidant status, tight junctions and microflora in the intestine of juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)

“…and Clostridium spp. in ileum of rabbits [39]. Moreover, our laboratory studies showed some amino acids such as methionine [40], histidine [8] and valine [9] affect microbial population in the intestine of Jian carp.…”