Reduced plasma concentrations of glutamine and its metabolites in weaned pigs
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
1995
Conference Title
Fifth Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association (APSA)
Place of Publication
Canberra
ISBN
0 646 25622 x
ISSN
1324-9177
Keywords
Glutamine, Weaners, Pigs, Gut atrophy
Disciplines
Agriculture | Animal Sciences | Food Science | Meat Science | Nutrition | Structural Biology
Abstract
Atrophy of the gut is common in weaned piglets and is often associated with an absence of gut substrates and/or catabolic stress. This atrophy may be the result of a lack of glutamine because this amino acid is not only the primary respiratory fuel for gut enterocytes but also provides amide nitrogen that may support nucleotide biosynthesis (Windmueller, 1984). Despite the abundance of glutamine in plasma and muscle, there are conditions of catabolic stress where the intra-cellular concentration of glutamine may decline by as much as 50% and plasma concentrations by as much as 30%. Elevation of glucocorticoid concentrations in blood, as experienced during stress, may increase oxidation of glutamine by increasing glutaminase activity.
Recommended Citation
Ayonrinde, A.I., Williams, I.H., McCauley, R., Mullan, B.P., 1995. Reduced plasma concentrations of glutamine ans its metabolites in weaned pigs. In “Manipulating Pig Production V”, eds., D.P Hennessey, P.D. Cranwell, Australasian Pig Science Association, Werribee, p. 179.