Maternal N-carbamylglutamate and L-arginine supplementations improve foetal jejunal oxidation resistance, integrity and immune function in malnutrition sheep during pregnancy

Abstract

The present work focused on examining the function of rumen-protected L-arginine (RP-Arg) or N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) in jejunal oxidative resistance, integrity and immune function in the ovine foetal model of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Thirty-two twin-bearing Hu ewes at d 35 of gestation were randomised as 4 treatment groups (n = 8 each): Control (CON), received 100% of the recommended National Research Council (NRC) for pregnancy; Restricted (RES), received 50% of the recommended NRC for pregnancy; RES + ARG, RES ewes added with 20 g/d of RP-Arg; or RES + NCG treatment, RES ewes added with 5 g/d of NCG. Foetal jejunal samples were collected on d 110 of pregnancy and were assayed for biomarkers of oxidative damage, integrity and immune function. The villus height was elevated (p < .05) within the jejunum of the foetuses of RES ewes subjected to dietary NCG or Arg supplementation relative to the RES group. RES + NCG or RES + ARG feeding decreased (p < .05) foetal jejunal tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and Interleukin (IL)-6 levels and elevated (p < .05) foetal jejunal superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (p < .05) in relative to RES group. The Arg/NCG supplementation downregulated (p < .05) expression of gene and proteins associated with inflammatory response (TNF-α), upregulated (p < .05) genes and proteins associated with antioxidation (catalase and SOD2) and integrity (claudin-1) relative to those within foetal jejunum of RES group. In conclusion, Arg and NCG supplementation of RES ewes alleviates foetal jejunal oxidative stress, improves integrity, and promotes foetal intestinal development in the ovine foetus with IUGR.

Keywords

• intrauterine growth restriction
• intestinal integrity
• l-arginine
• n-carbamylglutamate
• oxidation resistance