N-carbamylglutamate and L-arginine improved maternal and placental development in underfed ewes

• Published in: Reproduction (Cambridge, England) Vol. 151; no. 6; pp. 623 - 635
• Main Authors: Zhang, Hao, Sun, Lingwei, Wang, Ziyu, Deng, Mingtian, Nie, Haitao, Zhang, Guomin, Ma, Tiewei, Wang, Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Bioscientifica Ltd 01.06.2016
• Subjects: Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Arginine - administration & dosage; Arginine - pharmacology; Female; Fetal Development - drug effects; Fetal Growth Retardation - prevention & control; Fetal Growth Retardation - veterinary; Glutamates - administration & dosage; Glutamates - pharmacology; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - drug effects; Placenta - cytology; Placenta - drug effects; Placenta - physiology; Pregnancy; Sheep
• ISSN: 1470-1626; 1741-7899
• DOI: 10.1530/REP-16-0067

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.