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 Fligger, J. M.
Right arrow Articles by Baumrucker, C. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Fligger, J. M.
Right arrow Articles by Baumrucker, C. R.

Journal of Animal Science, Vol 75, Issue 11 3019-3025, Copyright © 1997 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Arginine supplementation increases weight gain, depresses antibody production, and alters circulating leukocyte profiles in preruminant calves without affecting plasma growth hormone concentrations

J. M. Fligger, C. A. Gibson, L. M. Sordillo and C. R. Baumrucker
Department of Dairy and Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA.

The hypothesis that dietary L-arginine (L-Arg) supplementation would increase growth hormone (GH) secretion and antibody production in preruminant calves was tested. Sixteen newborn calves were randomly assigned to either Arg+ or Arg- treatment groups. Both groups were fed a single dose of Colostrx within 6 h after birth followed by milk replacer twice daily until weaning. Beginning with the Colostrx feeding, calves in the Arg+ group were supplemented with L-arginine at 500 mg kg x BW(-1) x d(-1), and the Arg- group received equivalent, but unsupplemented, diets. All calves were immunized against keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) on d 4 and received a booster vaccination on d 14. The Arg+ treatment increased (P < .05) plasma L-Arg and urea concentrations an average of 2.8-fold and 26%, respectively, during the 4-wk supplementation period. Average daily gain (ADG) of Arg+ calves was increased (P < .10) during wk 1, 3, and 5 of life. The Arg+ treatment depressed (P < .05) total and KLH-specific IgG concentrations in plasma and caused a decrease (P < .01) in circulating leukocyte numbers. Differential counts revealed that the decrease in circulating leukocyte numbers was due to decreases in absolute numbers of lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils. The Arg+ diet did not affect mean plasma GH concentrations during the first 3 wk of life, but GH mean concentrations were decreased (P < .01) during wk 4 due to depressed (P < .10) pulse amplitudes. The decrease in GH mean concentrations during wk 4 was paralleled by lower (P < .10) plasma IGF binding protein-3 concentrations. These data show that supplementary L-Arg does not increase plasma GH concentrations, but it increases ADG, depresses KLH antibody production, and alters circulating leukocyte populations in preruminant calves.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Nutr.Home page
R. O. Ball, K. L. Urschel, and P. B. Pencharz
Nutritional Consequences of Interspecies Differences in Arginine and Lysine Metabolism
J. Nutr., June 1, 2007; 137(6): 1626S - 1641S.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J DAIRY SCIHome page
B. R. Husler and J. W. Blum
Metabolic and Endocrine Changes in Response to Endotoxin Administration With or Without Oral Arginine Supplementation
J Dairy Sci, August 1, 2002; 85(8): 1927 - 1935.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1997 by the American Society of Animal Science.