Glutamine supplementation stimulates cell proliferation in skeletal muscle and cultivated myogenic cells of low birth weight piglets

Abstract

Muscle growth of low birth weight (LBW) piglets may be improved with adapted nutrition. This study elucidated effects of glutamine (Gln) supplementation on the cellular muscle development of LBW and normal birth weight (NBW) piglets. Male piglets (n = 144) were either supplemented with 1 g Gln/kg body weight or an isonitrogeneous amount of alanine (Ala) between postnatal day 1 and 12 (dpn). Twelve piglets per group were slaughtered at 5, 12 and 26 dpn, one hour after injection with Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU, 12 mg/kg). Muscle samples were collected and myogenic cells were isolated and cultivated. Expression of muscle growth related genes was quantified with qPCR. Proliferating, BrdU-positive cells in muscle sections were detected with immunohistochemistry indicating different cell types and decreasing proliferation with age. More proliferation was observed in muscle tissue of LBW-GLN than LBW-ALA piglets at 5 dpn, but there was no clear effect of supplementation on related gene expression. Cell culture experiments indicated that Gln could promote cell proliferation in a dose dependent manner, but expression of myogenesis regulatory genes was not altered. Overall, Gln supplementation stimulated cell proliferation in muscle tissue and in vitro in myogenic cell culture, whereas muscle growth regulatory genes were barely altered.

Acute and persistent effects of oral glutamine supplementation on growth, cellular proliferation, and tight junction protein transcript abundance in jejunal tissue of low and normal birthweight pre-weaning piglets

“…We have previously shown that the supplementation of Gln from age day 1 to 12 increased growth and milk intake in LBW piglets which was associated to changes in lipid metabolism suggesting Gln effects on the splanchnic tissue [ 31 ]. Additionally, in a companion paper we reported that Gln supplementation resulted in Gln accumulation in skeletal muscle of 5-day old piglets and that Gln supplementation was associated with larger muscle fibers [ 42 ], as well as higher cellular proliferation in skeletal muscle [ 43 ]. Collectively, these results appear to support earlier findings on the growth-promoting effect of glutamine in pre-weaning piglets [ 21 , 22 ].…”

Skeletal Muscle Metabolism Is Dynamic during Porcine Postnatal Growth

“…While isotopomer labeling patterns are indicative of the enzymatic changes that would facilitate changes in intermediate use, the complex interplay between the regulation of enzyme expression and activity increases the burden of elucidating these molecular mechanisms. Ultimately, it is clear that glutamine and glutamate supplementation facilitates protein synthesis [38][39][40], but further investigation to understand the intricacies of amino acid utilization during postnatal growth is necessary.…”

Cell culture‐derived extracellular vesicles: Considerations for reporting cell culturing parameters

“…Amino acids and proteins are required for cell growth. The effects of glutamine and leucine on cell proliferation and EV biogenesis have been documented (Dai et al., 2015 ; Fan et al., 2020 ; Kim et al., 2017 ; Rubin, 2019 ; Zhao et al., 2021 ). If stabilized versions of amino acids are used as supplements, a different concentration of this amino acid in the medium over time will be maintained than when using the native version.…”