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Alteration of Nitrogen Metabolism by Alpha-Ketoglutarate Administration in Growing Lambs Fed High Nonprotein Nitrogen-Containing Diets^1,2,

University of Kentucky³, Lexington 40546-0215

Abstract

Two completely randomized design experiments were conducted, using either 10, 38-kg (Exp. 1) or 10, 26-kg (Exp. 2) Hampshire x Western wether lambs, to study the effects of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) administration on N metabolism. Lambs were fed 890 and 885 g DM/d in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively, of corn-cottonseed hull basal diets with urea added to attain CP levels of 10.6 and 10.5% in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. Experiments consisted of 10 d of adaptation followed by 7 d of infusion and excreta collection. Lambs were infused continuously either i.v. (Exp. 1) or abomasally (Exp. 2) with control solutions (CON) or solutions containing 41.3 g AKG/d (AKG). In Exp. 1, fecal and urinary N excretion and N retention were not affected (P > .10) by treatment. Compared to CON in Exp. 2, AKG infusion increased (P < .10) fecal N output (6.6 vs 5.9 g N/d) but did not affect (P > .10) the amount of N retained (4.4 vs 3.5 g N/d). Compared to CON, AKG increased (P < .10) urinary NH₃ N excretion in Exp. 1. Serum urea N was lower (P > .10) for AKG than for CON in Exp. 1 but was not affected (P > .10) by treatment in Exp. 2. In Exp. 1, AKG appeared to reduce activities of several serum enzymes that function in amino N metabolism. In Exp. 1, compared to CON, AKG decreased (P < .10) aspartate but increased (P < .10) asparagine in serum. In Exp. 1, AKG increased (P < .10) essential amino acids (EAA) but did not affect (P > .10) non-EAA in serum compared to CON. In Exp. 2, neither EAA nor non-EAA in serum were affected (P > .10) by treatment. Data are interpreted to suggest that AKG may alter disposal of metabolic N, but AKG did not improve conservation of N in these studies.

¹ This paper (No. 88-5-257) is published with the approval of the Director of the Kentucky Agric. Exp. Sta.

² We acknowledge support of the Univ. of Kentucky Major Research Instrumentation Bond Program in the purchase of equipment used in this study (bond ID no. 78-8E39-19).

³ Dept. of Anim. Sci.