title: Nitrogen balance and mineral excretion in growing male pigs injected with a human growth hormone-releasing factor analog.
abstract: A human growth hormone-releasing factor analog ([Desamino-Tyr1,D-Ala2,Ala15] hGRF(1-29) NH2) has been reported to reduce feed intake and increase growth and feed efficiency in a dose-dependent manner in growing pigs. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of this analog on nitrogen (N) balance and mineral excretion. Fifteen castrated male Yorkshire x Landrace pigs (45.9 +/- 1.4 kg) were randomly allotted to 2 groups: control (saline, n = 7) and GRF (6.66 micrograms/kg sc, TID, n = 8). The animals were injected for 20 consecutive days: feces and urine were collected during the last 10 d of injection. The animals had free access to water and food until satiety (approximately 15 min) at 07:00, 11:00, 15:00, 19:00, 23:00 and 07:00 h. The diet consisted of a hog fattening ration (18.0% crude protein). Blood samples were collected on the last day of the study by venipuncture. This analog increased (P < 0.05) insulin-like growth factor-1 and glucose serum concentrations and decreased (P < 0.05) serum urea nitrogen concentration and feed intake. The GRF-treated animals ingested less N, excreted less N in urine and feces to retain a similar amount of N than controls. The apparent coefficient of digestibility of the N has been slightly increased (P < 0.05) by GRF. Urinary excretion of P, K, and Cl decreased (P < 0.01) with GRF treatment. In conclusion, this GRF analog increased N digestibility and retention relative to N ingestion and reduced urinary N, P, K, and Cl excretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubreuil
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abribat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brazeau
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lapierre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D004032:Diet; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000652:urine*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D009919:Orchiectomy; D011897:Random Allocation; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004573:Electrolytes; D013004:Somatostatin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; C038136:CGP 23996; D014508:Urea; D009584:Nitrogen