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GLP‐2 infusion increases endogenous arginine synthesis in parenterally‐fed piglets receiving an arginine deficient diet
Author(s) -
Urschel Kristine L,
Pencharz Paul B,
Ball Ronald O
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a424-c
Subject(s) - parenteral nutrition , arginine , suidae , medicine , glucagon like peptide 2 , jugular vein , endocrinology , endogeny , saline , ileum , chemistry , amino acid , biochemistry , peptide
Neonatal piglets fed via total parenteral nutrition (TPN) cannot synthesize sufficient arginine (ARG) to maintain ARG status, presumably due to the intestinal atrophy that occurs with TPN feeding. Glucagon‐like peptide 2 (GLP‐2) helps maintain intestinal structure during TPN feeding by reducing intestinal apoptosis and proteolysis and maintaining intestinal blood flow. GLP‐2 infusion was hypothesized to increase the rate of endogenous ARG synthesis from proline (PRO), the major ARG precursor, in TPN‐fed piglets receiving an ARG deficient diet. Male piglets (n=10, ~1.7 kg), fitted with jugular vein catheters for diet and isotope infusion, and femoral vein catheters for blood sampling (d 0), were allocated to a continuous infusion (1 mL/kg/h) of either GLP‐2 (n =5; 0.4 nmol/mL) or 0.9% saline (n =5) into the jugular vein catheter for 7 d. Piglets received 2 d of complete TPN, followed by 5 d of an ARG deficient (0.60 g/kg/d) TPN. Piglets received primed, constant infusions of [guanido‐ 14 C]ARG to measure ARG flux (d 6), and [U‐ 14 C]PRO (d 7) to measure PRO conversion to ARG. Plasma ARG concentrations and ARG fluxes were similar (P > 0.05). Piglets receiving GLP‐2 had a greater jejunal mucosal mass (P = 0.003) and a two‐fold greater rate of ARG synthesis (μ mol/kg/h) from PRO (11.6 vs. 6.3) (P = 0.03). Maximal ARG synthesis in TPN‐fed piglets is usually ~25% of that in enterally‐fed piglets. This study is the first to quantitate ARG synthesis in TPN‐fed neonates and show that GLP‐2 infusion increases ARG synthesis. Also, second‐pass intestinal metabolism may be important for ARG synthesis in TPN‐fed neonates. Funded by NSERC.