AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 271, Issue 5 1149-R1155, Copyright © 1996 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

An important role for endogenous synthesis of arginine in maintaining arginine homeostasis in neonatal pigs

N. E. Flynn and G. Wu
Faculty of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-2471, USA.

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that endogenous arginine synthesis plays an important role in maintaining arginine homeostasis in neonatal pigs. Gabaculine was used as a suicide inhibitor of ornithine aminotransferase to decrease the intestinal conversion of glutamine-derived pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P-5-C) into ornithine, the precursor of both citrulline and arginine. Four-day-old suckling pigs received oral administration of 0.0 or 0.83 mg gabaculine/kg body wt every 4 h during a 12-h period from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. Blood was collected from piglet's jugular vein at 6 A.M. and 6 P.M. after a 2-h isolation from sows. Gabaculine treatment decreased plasma concentrations of ornithine, citrulline, and arginine by 59, 52, and 76%, respectively, and increased those of glutamine and proline by 74 and 220%, respectively. The gabaculine treatment also increased plasma concentrations of leucine, taurine, and ammonia by 29, 42, and 20%, respectively. There were no differences in intramuscular concentrations of amino acids between control and gabaculine-treated pigs. Because P-5-C synthase (the enzyme required for synthesis of P-5-C from glutamate) was almost exclusively located in enterocytes of 4-day-old pigs, our data suggest that the intestinal production of citrulline plays an important role in endogenous synthesis of arginine and its homeostasis in neonatal pigs.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Wang, L. Chen, P. Li, X. Li, H. Zhou, F. Wang, D. Li, Y. Yin, and G. Wu Gene Expression Is Altered in Piglet Small Intestine by Weaning and Dietary Glutamine Supplementation J. Nutr., June 1, 2008; 138(6): 1025 - 1032. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. L. Urschel, A. K. Shoveller, P. B. Pencharz, and R. O. Ball Arginine synthesis does not occur during first-pass hepatic metabolism in the neonatal piglet Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, June 1, 2005; 288(6): E1244 - E1251. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. F. P. Bertolo, J. A. Brunton, P. B. Pencharz, and R. O. Ball Arginine, ornithine, and proline interconversion is dependent on small intestinal metabolism in neonatal pigs Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, May 1, 2003; 284(5): E915 - E922. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Teixeira, M. L. Santaolaria, V. Meneu, and E. Alonso Dietary Arginine Slightly and Variably Affects Tissue Polyamine Levels in Male Swiss Albino Mice J. Nutr., December 1, 2002; 132(12): 3715 - 3720. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. J. de Jonge, B. Marescau, R. D'Hooge, P. P. De Deyn, M. M. Hallemeesch, N. E. P. Deutz, J. M. Ruijter, and W. H Lamers Overexpression of Arginase Alters Circulating and Tissue Amino Acids and Guanidino Compounds and Affects Neuromotor Behavior in Mice J. Nutr., October 1, 2001; 131(10): 2732 - 2740. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. W. Berkenbosch, J. Baribeau, and T. Perreault Decreased synthesis and vasodilation to nitric oxide in piglets with hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, February 1, 2000; 278(2): L276 - L283. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Brunton, R. F. P. Bertolo, P. B. Pencharz, and R. O. Ball Proline ameliorates arginine deficiency during enteral but not parenteral feeding in neonatal piglets Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, August 1, 1999; 277(2): E223 - E231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. L. Dillon, D. A. Knabe, and G. Wu Lactate inhibits citrulline and arginine synthesis from proline in pig enterocytes Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, May 1, 1999; 276(5): G1079 - G1086. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Stoll, J. Henry, P. J. Reeds, H. Yu, F. Jahoor, and D. G. Burrin Catabolism Dominates the First-Pass Intestinal Metabolism of Dietary Essential Amino Acids in Milk Protein-Fed Piglets J. Nutr., March 1, 1998; 128(3): 606 - 614. [Abstract] [Full Text]