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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #203388
Title: Effect of L-arginine supplementation to gestation and lactation diets on the expression of immune related genes in white blood cells of lactating sows

Author
item MATEO, R - TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
item Dowd, Scot
item Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll
item WU, G - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item KIM, S - TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2006
Publication Date: 3/9/2007
Citation: Mateo, R.D., Dowd, S.E., Carroll, J.A., Wu, G., Kim, S.W. 2007. L-arginine supplementation to gestation and lactation diets enhances the expression of immune related genes in white blood cells of lactating sows [abstract]. The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal. 21:539.18.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A study was conducted to investigate the effects of L-arginine HCl supplementation on immune related gene expression in leukocytes of first parity sows. Nineteen first parity sows (BW of 180.7 ± 2.7 kg and BF of 15.3 ± 0.2 mm) were used in this study. On d 30 of gestation, pregnant gilts were assigned to one of two dietary treatments which consisted of a basal diet supplemented with 1% L-arginine HCl or an isonitrogenous basal diet (1.7% L-alanine) which were maintained throughout the study. Gestation diets contained 3.1 ME (Mcal/kg) and 12.2% CP and were fed daily at 2 kg. Lactation diets contained 3.2 ME (Mcal/kg) and 18.6% CP and where provided ad libitum throughout lactation. At 110 d of gestation, pregnant gilts were transferred to farrowing crates. All piglets were weaned at 21 d after which sows were returned to gestation stalls. Blood samples (3 mL) were collected into Tempus RNA blood tubes via jugular venepuncture at 21 d of lactation and further processed for microarray analysis. Using an immune system targeted microarray, 8 hybridizations and dye swaps were performed and results validated with quantitative RT-PCR. Expression analysis showed that long term feeding of L-arginine to sows resulted in the upregulation (P < 0.05) of immune related genes including PVA2A Ig heavy chain region, SLA-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, polymeric Ig receptor, methionine synthase, and myocardin mRNA. Results from the study indicate that L-arginine HCl at 1% supplementation during early gestation, up to lactation, increases the expression of leukocyte immune related genes which may enhance immune response of first parity lactating sows.