J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sousadias, M. G.
Right arrow Articles by Smith, T. K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sousadias, M. G.
Right arrow Articles by Smith, T. K.

Journal of Animal Science, Vol 73, Issue 8 2375-2381, Copyright © 1995 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Toxicity and growth-promoting potential of spermine when fed to chicks

M. G. Sousadias and T. K. Smith
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Previous studies have shown that the feeding of putrescine, a biogenic amine and the precursor of the mammalian polyamines, can promote whole-body growth of chicks. The current study was undertaken to determine the effect of spermine, also a biogenic amine and the most cationic of the polyamines, under similar conditions. In Exp. 1, 120 week-old chicks were fed purified crystalline amino acid-based diets containing 0, .2, .4, .6, .8, or 1.0% spermine for 14 d. Spermine proved highly toxic and growth rates were reduced compared with controls when even .2% was fed. In Exp. 2, chicks were fed 0, .0375, .0750, or .1000% spermine. These concentrations proved less toxic than those used in Exp. 1. Supplemental dietary cysteine was then provided at 0, .3, .6, and .9% together with 0, .025, .050, or .400% spermine (Exp. 3) because depletion of cellular glutathione has been suggested as contributing to spermine's toxicity. Even high levels of cysteine supplementation did not overcome spermine's toxicity. Subsequent dietary provision of L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (OTC, Exp. 4), a cysteine prodrug, showed that depletion of cellular glutathione was not likely a cause of spermine toxicosis. A trend toward increased weight gain and feed efficiency was observed when low concentrations of spermine were fed. It was concluded, however, that dietary spermine was more toxic to chicks than was previously seen for putrescine, that any growth-promoting effects of dietary spermine are small, and that supplements of dietary cysteine or OTC are unlikely to increase these effects by overcoming spermine toxicosis.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Poult. Sci.Home page
R. Gonzalez-Esquerra and S. Leeson
Concentrations of Putrescine, Spermidine, and Spermine in Duodenum and Pancreas as Affected by the Ratio of Arginine to Lysine and Source of Methionine in Broilers Under Heat Stress
Poult. Sci., August 1, 2006; 85(8): 1398 - 1408.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1995 by the American Society of Animal Science.