title: N-carbamylglutamate and L-arginine improved maternal and placental development in underfed ewes.
abstract: The objectives of this study were to determine how dietary supplementation of N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) and rumen-protected L-arginine (RP-Arg) in nutrient-restricted pregnant Hu sheep would affect (1) maternal endocrine status; (2) maternal, fetal, and placental antioxidation capability; and (3) placental development. From day 35 to day 110 of gestation, 32 Hu ewes carrying twin fetuses were allocated randomly into four groups: 100% of NRC-recommended nutrient requirements, 50% of NRC recommendations, 50% of NRC recommendations supplemented with 20g/day RP-Arg, and 50% of NRC recommendations supplemented with 5g/day NCG product. The results showed that in maternal and fetal plasma and placentomes, the activities of total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase were increased (P<0.05); however, the activity of glutathione peroxidase and the concentration of maleic dialdehyde were decreased (P<0.05) in both NCG- and RP-Arg-treated underfed ewes. The mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 was increased (P<0.05) in 50% NRC ewes than in 100% NRC ewes, and had no effect (P>0.05) in both NCG- and RP-Arg-treated underfed ewes. A supplement of RP-Arg and NCG reduced (P<0.05) the concentrations of progesterone, cortisol, and estradiol-17β; had no effect on T4/T3; and improved (P<0.05) the concentrations of leptin, insulin-like growth factor 1, tri-iodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) in serum from underfed ewes. These results indicate that dietary supplementation of NCG and RP-Arg in underfed ewes could influence maternal endocrine status, improve the maternal-fetal-placental antioxidation capability, and promote fetal and placental development during early-to-late gestation.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Engineering Technology Research Center of Mutton Sheep & Goat IndustryNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Engineering Technology Research Center of Mutton Sheep & Goat IndustryNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lingwei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Engineering Technology Research Center of Mutton Sheep & Goat IndustryNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ziyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Engineering Technology Research Center of Mutton Sheep & Goat IndustryNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mingtian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Engineering Technology Research Center of Mutton Sheep & Goat IndustryNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Engineering Technology Research Center of Mutton Sheep & Goat IndustryNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guomin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Engineering Technology Research Center of Mutton Sheep & Goat IndustryNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tiewei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Engineering Technology Research Center of Mutton Sheep & Goat IndustryNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering LaboratoryNanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China caeet@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; C006895:N-carbamylglutamate; D001120:Arginine