Parenteral administration of twin-bearing ewes with L-arginine enhances the birth weight and brown fat stores in sheep

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of parenteral administration of L-arginine (Arg) to well-fed twin-bearing ewes from day (d) 100 of pregnancy to birth on fetal growth, body composition and neonatal behavior. Ewes received an i.v. bolus of either 345 μmol Arg-HCl/kg bodyweight or saline solution (control) 3 times a day. At d 140 of pregnancy, Arg-supplemented and control ewes were euthanized and fetal weight and fetal organ weight recorded, and maternal and fetal plasma concentrations of amino acids, hormones and metabolites analyzed. A subset of ewes was allowed to lamb and birth weight, body dimensions and behavior of the lambs in the first 2 hours(h) following birth recorded and blood samples collected. At d 140 of pregnancy, fetal weight internal organ weights were unaffected by treatment with the exception of brown fat stores which were increased by 16% in fetuses from Arg-supplemented ewes relative to controls (P < 0.05). At birth, there was an interaction (P = 0.06) between treatment and sex for birth weight of the lamb. The ewe lambs from Arg-supplemented ewes were 12% (P < 0.05) heavier at birth compared with controls whereas birth weight of male lambs did not differ. These results indicate that maternal Arg supplementation enhanced brown fat stores in the fetus and countered some effect of fetal growth restriction due to litter size in female lambs. Increasing birth weight of female lambs and enhancing brown fat stores of all lambs may have important implications for lamb survival and postnatal growth.

The effects of diet and arginine treatment on serum metabolites and selected hormones during the estrous cycle in sheep

“…However, in our timecourse trial and previous studies in pregnant ewes, it has been clearly found that Arg concentrations increased during the first 1 to 2 hours after Arg treatment and then declined to baseline levels within more than 4 hours after injection [25,43]. Thus, Arg clearance occurs rapidly in pregnant and nonpregnant sheep.…”

Identification of the association between &lt;i&gt;FABP4&lt;/i&gt; gene polymorphisms and milk production traits in Sfakia sheep

“…For example, Chacher et al (2013) suggested that promotion of the synthesis and metabolism of endogenous L-Arginine, through supplementation with feed additives that elevate blood plasma arginine levels, enhanced immunity, reduced SCC, and reduced the incidence of mastitis in sows. McCoard et al (2013) found that administration of L-arginine to Romney ewes improved mammary gland health and decreased SCC in the milk produced. Woloszyn (2007) revealed that the cows with high SCC had a significantly lower concentration of arginine in their blood plasma.…”

Performance and Puberty of Ram Lambs Produced From Ewes Treated with Arginine

“…A crucial factor for survival, growth, and development of fetus is a functional placenta for transporting nutrients, respiratory gases, and metabolism products between the maternal and fetal circulations (Wang et al 2012). AR is a nutritionally essential amino acid for the fetus and is a precursor for the synthesis of nitric oxide and polyamines, which are essential for placental growth and function, and growth of new vessels from the existing vasculature and, therefore, for increasing uterine and placental-fetal blood flow (Wu et al, 2004 and2009;Lassala et al, 2010and McCoard et al, 2013. Polyamines play important roles in placental health and development by regulating angiogenesis or new blood vessels formation (Kwon, 2003).…”