Effects of mid-gestational l-citrulline supplementation to twin-bearing ewes on umbilical blood flow, placental development, and lamb production traits

Abstract

The objective of the study was to examine how L-citrulline supplementation to ewes during mid-gestation influences placental activity, placental blood flow, lamb body weight and carcass characteristics. Two studies were completed. A pharmacokinetic study to compare circulating plasma amino acid concentrations after a single intravenous injection of 155 µmol/kg BW L-citrulline or after an isonitrogenous amount of L-alanine (control; 465 µmol/Kg BW). Increases (P < 0.05) in circulating citrulline concentrations were detected for 8 h after L-citrulline injection versus the control. Similarly, increases (P < 0.05) in circulating arginine concentrations were detected for 24 h after L-citrulline treatment. The second study used 12 ewes with twin pregnancies. Daily intravenous injections of either L-citrulline or L-alanine were administered for 39 d from d 42-45 to 81-84 of gestation. Ewes were limit-fed at 85 % daily energy requirements during the injection period. A decrease (P < 0.0001) in body weight was observed in both treatment groups during this period. No treatment differences were observed in circulating pregnancy-specific protein B concentrations or placental blood flow during the treatment and post-treatment gestational period. No treatment differences were observed in lamb survival nor in lamb birth, weaning and slaughter weights. Treatment did not influence lamb carcass composition or organ weights. However, there was a tendency (P = 0.10) for an increase in antral follicle numbers in ovaries from ewe lambs derived from ewes treated with L-citrulline. In summary, a daily L-citrulline injection increased both circulating citrulline and arginine concentrations in ewes, but daily L-citrulline injections during mid-gestation did not produce any detectable changes in placental activity and blood flow, neonatal and postnatal lamb development, and lamb carcass composition at slaughter. In conclusion, no benefits in placental function and lamb development were observed after providing L-citrulline during mid-gestation in ewes exposed to a mild energy restriction, but there was an indication that follicle numbers in ewe lambs were positively influenced by L-citrulline treatment during fetal development.

Impacts of Different Prenatal Supplementation Strategies on the Plasma Metabolome of Bulls in the Rearing and Finishing Phase

“…Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid considered a biomarker for enterocyte mass, epithelial cell damage, and absorptive function [ 41 , 42 ]. The administration of citrulline to pregnant ewes and cows improves embryo survival [ 43 ] and tends to increase the number of antral follicles in the ovaries of ewes [ 44 ]. Furthermore, citrulline has several functions: protein synthesis, intestinal homeostasis, nitrogen balance, growth and development, anti-oxidation, muscle performance, intestinal functions, renal function, exercise performance, blood pressure, vasodilation, and anti-inflammatory action [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ].…”

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“…O surgimento das miofibras primárias se dá no desenvolvimento embrionário, e as miofibras secundárias proliferam e desenvolvem no período intermediário e final da gestação (DU et al, 2010). A hiperplasia muscular finda antes do nascimento, e o crescimento muscular no período pós-natal se dá através de hipertrofia (KOTT et al, 2021). A utilização da nutrição materna pode beneficiar a dinâmica das fibras musculares dos fetos, fato este evidenciado no estudo de GONZALEZ et al (2013) em que vacas de corte submetidas a restrição alimentar com posterior retroalimentação causaram crescimento compensatório de fibras musculares nos fetos.…”

“…Sua síntese decorre da metabolização de ARG e CIT em ornitina e prolina . Mediante as propriedades supracitadas, a metabolização tanto de ARG quanto de CIT, beneficia a gestação por aumentar a taxa de perfusão placentária e consequentemente fornecer mais nutrientes e oxigênio para os fetos através da ação do ON e das poliaminas (KOTT et al, 2021;MAUL et al, 2003).…”