title: Sows' milk attenuates dexamethasone-induced reductions in liver docosahexaenoic acid.
abstract: The objective was to determine the effects of dexamethasone (Dex) on growth and arachidonic (AA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid status. Piglets were randomized to suckling or formula feeding plus Dex or placebo treatment for 15 days. Weight and length at the beginning and end of study was used to assess growth. After 15 days, AA and DHA in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) were measured in liver and plasma and total AA and DHA in forebrain and brainstem. Dex treatment significantly reduced weight and length. Dex reduced liver PC and PE DHA in the formula group, but the reduction in the suckled group was not significant. PC AA and DHA were positively related in liver and plasma. A main effect of Dex to reduce AA and DHA was observed in forebrain but not in brainstem. Sows' milk attenuated the Dex-induced reduction in liver DHA but not forebrain AA and DHA or somatic growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petryk
authors.forename: Hope A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Weiler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000502:physiology*; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D003907:Dexamethasone