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Dietary L‐arginine supplementation can increase expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in early‐weaned pigs
Author(s) -
Yao Kang,
Yin Yulong,
Li Tiejun,
Huang Ruilin,
Wu Guoyao
Publication year - 2010
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.24.1_supplement.102.4
Subject(s) - jejunum , ileum , arginine , duodenum , small intestine , vascular endothelial growth factor , biology , zoology , medicine , endocrinology , vegf receptors , biochemistry , amino acid
This study determined the effects of dietary arginine supplementation on intestinal VEGF expression and growth performance in early‐weaned pigs. Twenty Large White × Landrace piglets (5.3 ± 0.13 kg body weight) were removed from sows at 21 d of age. Piglets were housed individually and assigned randomly to a corn‐ and soybean‐based diet supplemented with 2.05% L‐alanine (isonitrogenous control) or 1% L‐arginine (10 pigs per group). After a 7‐d period of feeding, 6 pigs were selected randomly from each group to obtain the small intestine. VEGF protein in the small intestine was determined using immunohistochemistry. Compared with control pigs, dietary supplementation with 1% L‐arginine enhanced (P<0.05) the villus height of duodenum, jejunum and ileum by 21%, 28% and 25%, respectively, and VEGF protein levels in duodenal mucosa by 14%. Arginine supplementation increased (P<0.05) the average daily gain of piglets by 38%, while decreasing (P<0.05) feed:gain ratio by 28%. These results indicate that arginine supplementation is beneficial for enhancing VEGF expression and the morphology of the small intestine, as well as the growth performance of weaned piglets. Supported by NSFC, USDA and TAMU.