J. Anim Sci.
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Published online first on March 19, 2007
J. Anim Sci. 1990. doi:10.2527/jas.2006-569
© 2007 American Society of Animal Science
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J. Anim Sci., doi: 10.2527/jas.2006-569
©Copyright, 2007, The American Society of Animal Science

Animal Nutrition

Growth characteristics, blood metabolites, and IGF system components in maternal tissues from gilts fed L-carnitine through day 70 of gestation

K. R. Brown 1, R. D. Goodband 1, M. D. Tokach 1, S. S. Dritz 1, J. L. Nelssen 1, J. E. Minton 1, J. J. Higgins 1, J. C. Woodworth 1, B. J. Johnson 1*

1 Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-0201

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: bjohnson{at}ksu.edu.


  Abstract

A total of 59 gilts (BW = 137.7 kg) from 3 different breeding groups were used to assess the effects of feeding L-carnitine during gestation on gilt growth characteristics, blood metabolites, and uterine and chorioallantois expression of IGF axis components at d 40, 55, and 70 of gestation. Experimental treatments were arranged in a 2 x 3 factorial with main effects of added L-carnitine (0 or 50 ppm) and d of gestation after initial breeding (40, 55, or 70). All gilts received a constant feed allowance of 1.75 kg/d and a top-dress containing either 0 or 50 ppm of L-carnitine starting on the first day of breeding through the allotted gestation length. No dietary treatment differences were observed for gilt BW, backfat, or estimated protein or fat mass at any gestation length. No differences were observed in circulating total and free carnitine at breeding, but concentrations increased (P < 0.01) as gestation length increased for gilts fed diets containing L-carnitine compared to those fed the control diet. Maternal IGF-I concentration decreased (P < 0.01) from d 0 to 70 for all gilts with no differences between treatments. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 mRNA (IGFBP-3; P = 0.05) and IGFBP-5 mRNA increased (P = 0.01) in the endometrium of gilts supplemented with L-carnitine. These data demonstrate that L-carnitine supplementation and gestation length alter the expression of the IGF axis by changing the expression of IGFBPs at the fetal-maternal interface in swine. These changes in the IGF axis at the fetal maternal interface aid in determining the reasons for the effects of L-carnitine on reproductive traits.

Key Words: gestation, gilts, insulin-like growth factor, insulin-like growth factor binding proteins, L-carnitine, messenger RNA






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Copyright © 2007 by the American Society of Animal Science.