title: Oral administration of D-aspartate, but not L-aspartate, depresses rectal temperature and alters plasma metabolites in chicks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  L-Aspartate (L-Asp) and D-aspartate (D-Asp) are physiologically important amino acids in mammals and birds. However, the functions of these amino acids have not yet been fully understood. In this study, we therefore examined the effects of L-Asp and D-Asp in terms of regulating body temperature, plasma metabolites and catecholamines in chicks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chicks were first orally administered with different doses (0, 3.75, 7.5 and 15 mmol/kg body weight) of L- or D-Asp to monitor the effects of these amino acids on rectal temperature during 120 min of the experimental period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral administration of D-Asp, but not of L-Asp, linearly decreased the rectal temperature in chicks. Importantly, orally administered D-Asp led to a significant reduction in body temperature in chicks even under high ambient temperature (HT) conditions. However, centrally administered D-Asp did not significantly influence the body temperature in chicks. As for plasma metabolites and catecholamines, orally administered D-Asp led to decreased triacylglycerol and uric acid concentrations and increased glucose and chlorine concentrations but did not alter plasma catecholamines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that oral administration of D-Asp may play a potent role in reducing body temperature under both normal and HT conditions. The alteration of plasma metabolites further indicates that D-Asp may contribute to the regulation of metabolic activity in chicks.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
authors.forename: Edi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erwan
authors.affiliation: Division for Arts and Science, Faculty of Arts and Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
authors.forename: Vishwajit Sur
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
authors.forename: Mao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryosei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goda
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yasuo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan. Electronic address: furuse@brs.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furuse
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D026603:D-Aspartic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010949:Plasma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002395:Catecholamines; D014280:Triglycerides; D014527:Uric Acid; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D026603:D-Aspartic Acid
keywords: Body temperature; Chicks; D-Aspartate; L-Aspartate; Plasma metabolites