Abomasal Nitrogen Flow Affects the Relationship between Dietary Nitrogen and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I in Growing Lambs

Abstract

Twelve abomasally cannulated wether lambs were fed isocaloric diets containing 9, 12 or 15% crude protein to determine insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) responses to altered abomasal nitrogen flow and nitrogen status. Lambs were offered 1100 g/d of their respective diets. Voluntary feed consumption was not affected by nitrogen intake. Ruminal and total tract digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter and nitrogen increased linearly (P < 0.05) with increased dietary nitrogen. Abomasal flows of total, bacterial and rumen escape nitrogen increased (linear, P < 0.01), whereas dry matter and organic matter flows decreased (linear, P < 0.01). Total amino acid flow was greater (linear, P < 0.01) in lambs fed additional nitrogen due to increased (linear, P < 0.01) flows of essential and nonessential amino acids. Nitrogen retention and blood urea nitrogen increased linearly (P < 0.01). Serum IGF-I concentrations and relative hybridization intensity of hepatic IGF-I mRNA increased (linear, P < 0.05) as lambs consumed more nitrogen. Serum IGF-I and hepatic IGF-I mRNA were correlated positively (P < 0.05) with nitrogen intake and abomasal flows of nitrogen and various amino acids. These data provide evidence of a relationship between abomasal amino acid flow, as influenced by nitrogen intake, and hepatic gene expression and serum concentrations of IGF-I in growing lambs.