Effects Of Dietary Arginine Levels Research Articles

Effect of dietary arginine levels on growth performance, protein synthesis, antioxidant capacity and immunity of postlarval mud crab Scylla paramamosain

This study investigated the effects of different dietary arginine (Arg) levels on the growth, protein synthesis, antioxidant capacity, and immunity of postlarval mud crab Scylla Paramamosain. Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated to contain 1.51%, 1.81%, 2.16%, 2.35%, 2.73%, and 3.07% dietary Arg levels (dry matter). There were four replicates for each diet treatment (26 crabs per replicate, initial body weight: 7.40 ± 0.15 mg). After eight weeks of feeding trial, the survival and molting frequency (MF) of crabs were not affected by the experimental treatment (P>0.05). Crabs fed the 2.50% Arg diet achieved the highest weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) (P<0.05). The whole-body protein content of the 2.16% and 2.73% Arg groups were significantly higher than that of the 1.51% Arg group (P<0.05). Crabs in the 2.35% group obtained the highest levels of phenylalanine and leucine (P<0.05). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activity in the 2.16%, 2.35% and 2.73% Arg groups were significantly higher than that in other treatments (P<0.05). Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity were not significantly affected by the treatments. The transcript levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (igf-1), rapamycinin (TOR), S6 kinase-polypeptide 1 (s6k1) in crabs fed with 2.16% and 2.35% dietary Arg were significantly higher than those in crabs fed with 1.51% and 3.07% dietary Arg (P<0.05). The lowest prophenoloxidase (proPO), relish, and lysozyme transcript levels were observed in crabs fed the 1.51% dietary Arg. The current study founded that the Arg requirement for postlaval S.paramamosain was 2.34% (5.20% of the dietary protein), based on the second order polynomial regression analysis of WG.

Effects of dietary arginine levels on intestinal morphology, digestive enzyme activity, antioxidant capacity and intestinal flora of hybrid snakehead(Channa maculata ♀×Channa argus ♂)

The effects of arginine on intestinal shape, digestive enzyme activity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal flora of hybrid snakeheads Channa maculata♀×Channa argus♂. Five experimental diets were formulated to contain arginine with 2.31%, 2.42%, 2.72%, 2.92%, and 3.12% respectively, and recorded as G1 (control), G2, G3, G4, and G5. Five groups of 50 fish (22.02 ± 0.02 g) for each diet were fed to apparent satiation twice daily for 56 days. The results showed that significantly higher weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein deposition rate (PDR), intestinal somatic indices (ISI), lipase, trypsin, Na+/K+-ATPase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and significantly lower feed coefficient rate (FCR) were observed in fish fed with 2.92% diet compared to 2.31% group (P < 0.05). There was a significant increase of intestinal villus length, villus width and muscular thickness in fish fed with 2.92% and 3.12% arginine diets compared with those in 2.31% group (P < 0.05). The fish fed with 2.92% or 3.12% arginine diets had significantly higher intestinal total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) compared to those in 2.31% group (P < 0.05). High-throughput sequencing revealed arginine supplementation can significantly increase the generation of probiotic bacteria and altered the composition of intestinal microbes. There was a significant increase of the abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria in fish fed 3.12% arginine diets compared with those in 2.31% group (P < 0.05). Based on the WGR, a broken-line regression analysis showed that the appropriate level of arginine in the diet of hybrid snakehead was 2.95% (6.65% of the feed protein).

Effects of dietary arginine on growth, anti-oxidative enzymes, biomarkers of immunity, amino acid metabolism and resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus challenge in abalone Haliotis discus hannai

A 110-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of dietary arginine levels on growth performance, amino acid metabolism, immune response, and disease resistance of abalone Haliotis discus hannai (initial weight: 15.70 ± 0.03 g). Seven isonitrogenous (about 32% of crude protein) and isolipidic (about 3% of crude lipid) diets with 1.17% (the control), 1.36%, 1.68%, 2.19%, 2.47%, 2.82% and 3.43% of arginine were formulated. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate cages (5 layers, each layer was 40 cm × 35 cm × 14 cm) with 80 abalones per cage. At the end of the feeding trial, abalones were fasted for 72 h and anesthetized with 5% alcohol. Results showed that final body weight and biomass gain (BG) increased first and thereafter decreased, where the break-points (34.11 g and 934.41 g, respectively) were found in the 1.68% dietary arginine group. Based on the broken-line regression analysis of BG, the optimal dietary arginine level for abalone was estimated to be 1.64% of dry diet. Abalone fed with 2.47% of dietary arginine showed higher crude protein content in the soft body (17.59% wet weight) than other groups. The crude lipid content had a decreasing trend (from 2.02 to 1.28% wet weight) with increasing dietary arginine. The concentration of total free essential amino acids in hemolymph was significantly higher in 1.68% (207.30 μg/mL), 2.19% (199.17 μg/mL) and 2.47% (216.30 μg/mL) dietary arginine groups than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Activities of alanine aminotransferase, total nitric oxide synthase, total anti-oxidative capacity, lysozyme, and the contents of nitric oxide, total protein and albumin were significantly increased as dietary arginine levels increasing from 1.17% to 1.68% and then decreased (P < 0.05). In the digestive gland, the genes expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase were significantly increased in 1.68% dietary arginine group compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05), while the gene expression of kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 showed an opposite trend. Meanwhile, the gene expression of tumor necrosis factor-α was decreased in 1.36% to 2.82% dietary arginine levels, and the gene expression of Arginase-I was increased in the 1.68% dietary arginine group. The cumulative mortality of abalone challenged with Vibrio parahaemolyticus (1.0 × 107 cfu/mL) for seven days was significantly decreased in the 1.68% dietary arginine group (36.67%) compared with those in the other groups except for the group with 2.19% of dietary arginine. In conclusion, dietary arginine level (1.68%) improved the growth, anti-oxidative capacity, immunity and disease resistance of abalone.

Effects of dietary arginine levels on growth, immune function of physical barriers and serum parameters of spotted seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus) reared at different water temperatures

A growth experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary arginine levels on growth, immune function of physical barriers and serum parameters of spotted seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus) reared at different water temperatures (27°C and 33°C). Six iso‑nitrogenous and iso‑lipid diets were formulated with 1.16%, 1.65%, 2.04%, 2.44%, 2.98% and 3.36% arginine, respectively. Growth of fish reared at 27°C was significantly higher than that of fish reared at 33°C (P < 0.05). Weight gain (WG) increased first and then decreased with the increase of arginine levels, and the maximum value was obtained in fish fed the diet with 2.04% arginine at 27°C or 33°C. As for immune function of physical barriers, activities of antioxidant enzymes (GPx and SOD) and expression of genes related to tight junction (ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin b) were significantly higher in the gills of fish reared at 27°C than those of fish reared at 33°C (P < 0.05). Furthermore, activities of GPx and SOD and the mRNA expression of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin b reached the maximum values in the gills of fish fed the diet with 2.44% or 2.04% arginine at 27°C among all treatments. The mRNA expression of MAPK p38 and MyD88 and contents of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα) were significantly lower in the intestine of fish reared at 27°C than those of fish reared at 33°C (P < 0.05). Regardless of water temperature, contents of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα as well as the mRNA expression of MAPK p38 and MyD88 reached the minimum values in the intestine of fish fed the diet with 2.04% or 2.44% arginine at 27°C among all treatments. As for serum parameters, the activity of iNOS as well as contents of NO, complements 3 and 4 were significantly higher in fish reared at 27°C than those of fish reared at 33°C (P < 0.05). Regardless of water temperature, serum activities of TNOS and iNOS reached the maximum values in fish fed the diet with 2.04% or 2.44% arginine among different arginine supplementation groups. The activity of lysozyme reached the maximum value in fish fed the diet with 2.04% arginine level at 27°C among all treatments. Those results showed that a water temperature of 33°C decreased growth, immune function of physical barriers and serum parameters of fish. Growth and immunity were maximized when the arginine requirement of spotted seabass was met. Second-order polynomial regression analyses of WG and lysozyme activity showed that the arginine requirement of spotted seabass was 2.47% and 2.53% of the dry diet (5.49% and 5.62% of dietary protein) at 27°C as well as 2.40% and 2.37% of the dry diet (5.33% and 5.27% of dietary protein) at 33°C, respectively.

Effects of dietary arginine levels on growth, intestinal peptide and amino acid transporters, and gene expressions of the TOR signaling pathway in tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes

This study aimed to determine the dietary arginine requirement of tiger puffer (Takifugu rubripes), and to assess the effect of dietary arginine levels on intestinal peptide and amino acid transporters, and target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway in muscle. Six experimental diets were formulated to contain 480 g kg−1 crude protein from fishmeal, corn protein concentrate and crystalline amino acid premix with graded levels of arginine (19.1, 21.5, 24.4, 26.7, 30.0 and 32.5 g kg−1 of dry diet). Each diet was randomly fed to triplicate groups of 25 fish (an average initial body weight of 19.97 g) per tank. Final body weight, specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio and protein productive value increased with the increase of dietary arginine levels from 19.1 to 24.4 g kg−1 (p < 0.05), and then showed a declining trend although there was no significant difference. With the increase of dietary arginine levels, intestinal oligopeptide transporter 1 (PepT1), cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT1) and y+ L-type amino acid transporter 2 (y+LAT2) mRNA levels increased at first and thereafter showed a decreasing trend, where a break point was observed in the 24.4 g kg−1 arginine group. The expression of b0,+-type amino acid transporter (b0,+AT) in intestine was significantly higher in the 21.5 and 24.4 g kg−1 arginine groups compared with the 32.5 g kg−1 arginine group (p < 0.05). Gene expressions of TOR, ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 in muscle were not statistically different in all treatment groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, an optimal level of dietary arginine stimulated intestinal peptide and amino acid transporters, while gene expressions of TOR signaling pathway in muscle were not responsive to dietary arginine levels. Based on nonlinear regression analysis of SGR, the dietary arginine requirement of tiger puffer was estimated to be 24.40 g kg−1 of dry diet (50.12 g kg−1 of dietary protein).

Effects of dietary arginine levels on body weight, relative lymphoid organ weight, and serum and intestinal immunological variables in young Lohmann Brown chickens

Effects of dietary arginine levels on body weight, relative lymphoid organ weight, and serum and intestinal immunological variables in young Lohmann Brown chickens

Effects of dietary arginine levels on growth performance, body composition, serum biochemical indices and resistance ability against ammonia-nitrogen stress in juvenile yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco).

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary arginine levels on growth performance, body composition, serum biochemical indices and resistance ability against ammonia-nitrogen stress in juvenile yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco). Five isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets (42% protein and 9% lipid) were formulated to contain graded levels of arginine (2.44%, 2.64%, 2.81%, 3.01% and 3.23% of diet), by supplementing L-Arginine HCl. Seven hundred juvenile yellow catfish with an initial average body weight of 1.13 ± 0.02 g were randomly divided into 5 groups with 4 replicates of 35 fish each and each group was fed one of the diets. After 56 d feeding, fish were exposed to 100 mg/L of ammonia-nitrogen for 72 h. The results showed that weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) in 2.64% and 2.81% groups were significantly higher than those in 3.23% group (P < 0.05). The feed conversation ratio (FCR) in 2.64%, 2.81% and 3.01% groups was significantly decreased when compared with 3.23% group. The protein efficiency ratio (PER) in 2.64% group was significantly higher than that in 2.44% and 3.23% groups (P < 0.05). The condition factor (CF) of fish was significantly higher in 2.81% group than that in 2.44% group (P < 0.05). Dietary arginine levels had no significant effect on hepatosomatic index (HSI), viscerosomatic index (VSI), and whole-body dry matter, crude protein, crude lipid, ash contents, as well as serum total protein (TP), triglyceride (TG), glucose (GLU), urea nitrogen (UN) contents and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities (P > 0.05). After the fish were challenged to ammonia-nitrogen for 72 h, their cumulative mortality rate in 2.81% group was significantly lower than that in 2.44% group (P < 0.05). The results suggested that dietary arginine level at 2.81% could optimize anti-ammonia-nitrogen stress ability of juvenile yellow catfish and a level of 3.23% arginine seemed to depress the growth performance of fish and decreased their tolerance to the ammonia-nitrogen stress under current study. A quadratic regression analysis based on WG indicated that the optimal dietary arginine requirement of juvenile yellow catfish was estimated to be 2.74% of the diet (6.45% of dietary protein) under current culture conditions.

Dietary arginine affects growth performance, plasma amino acid contents and gene expressions of the TOR signaling pathway in juvenile blunt snout bream, Megalobrama amblycephala

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to estimate the dietary arginine requirement and investigate the effects of dietary arginine levels on the growth performance, plasma essential amino acids contents and relative gene expressions of target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway in juvenile blunt snout bream. Fish (initial weight: 20.0±0.03g) were randomly sorted into 18 cages (1m×1m×1m) and each cage was stocked with 20 fish for farm pond culture. Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic practical diets were formulated to contain graded arginine levels ranging from 0.87% to 2.70% of dry diet. At the end of the feeding trial, results showed that final weight (FW), weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) increased with increasing dietary arginine level up to 1.62%, and thereafter showed a decreasing trend, while feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed a converse trend. The hepatosomatic index (HSI) in the fish fed with 2.31 and 2.70% arginine diets were significantly higher than the other arginine diets. Viscerosomatic index (VSI) in the fish fed with 1.62 and 1.96% arginine diets were significantly lower than 0.87, 2.31 and 2.70% arginine diets. The highest whole body protein, lipid and lowest moisture contents were observed in fish fed with 1.96% dietary arginine compared to those fed with the other diets. Plasma arginine content increased with increasing dietary arginine level, whereas plasma lysine decreased with increasing dietary arginine level. Plasma histidine, isoleucine, valine, tryptophan and methionine contents were significantly affected by dietary arginine levels. Relative expression levels of TOR mRNA in the group fed with 1.96% dietary arginine was significantly higher compared to those fed with 0.87 and 1.22% arginine diets. Relative expression levels of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) mRNA in the groups fed with 1.62 and 1.96% dietary arginine were significantly higher than those fed with the other arginine diets. Significantly higher relative expression levels of ribosomal protein S6 kinase-polypeptide 1 (S6K1) mRNA were found in fish fed with 2.31 and 2.70% arginine diets. Based on FCR and SGR, the optimal dietary arginine level was determined to be 1.85% of diet (5.60% of dietary protein) and 1.84% of diet (5.58% of dietary protein), respectively, using quadratic regression analysis. Statement of relevanceThe findings showed dietary arginine affected growth, plasma amino acid concentration, and gene expressions of TOR signaling pathway in juvenile blunt snout bream. The determination of dietary arginine requirement in practical diet would be useful in developing essential amino acids balanced commercial feed for blunt snout bream.

Effects of dietary arginine levels and carbohydrate-to-lipid ratios on mRNA expression of growth-related hormones in largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides

Utilizing the tissue samples and growth data collected from our two preceding researches in largemouth bass (LMB), we have investigated effects of dietary arginine (Arg) levels and carbohydrate-to-lipid (CHO/LIP) ratios on the GH, IGF-I and insulin expression in related tissues to find possible relationships between the nutrient intake, growth performance and transcript level. Hepatic IGF-I and pituitary GH mRNA levels were significantly up-regulated by lower dietary Arg levels from 1.94% to 3.01% and by higher levels from 2.76% to 3.01%, respectively, while Brockmann body (BB)-containing tissue insulin mRNA expression was not affected. Dietary CHO/LIP ratios ranging from 0.32 to 5.17 (w/w) affected pituitary GH, liver IGF-I and BB-containing tissue insulin mRNA expression in a ratio-specific pattern. The lower ratios from 0.32 to 2.36 significantly up-regulated GH and insulin transcript levels, but significantly down-regulated IGF-I transcript levels; the higher ratios did no longer exert any further effects on them. Meanwhile, two strong positive correlations (r=0.892, r=0.885) between hepatic IGF-I transcript levels and specific growth rates of tested fish were observed with varying dietary Arg levels and CHO/LIP ratios, respectively. These findings indicate that in LMB dietary Arg levels and CHO/LIP ratios regulate differentially the endocrine system of GH, IGF-I and insulin at transcription level; this system, in turn, plays a fundamental role in the regulation of the nutrient metabolism and somatic growth; and that hepatic IGF-I mRNA abundance should be a more reliable index to assess growth and nutritional fitness than the others, at least in LMB.

Effects of dietary arginine levels on growth, feed conversion, protein productive value and carcass composition of stinging catfish fingerling Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying levels of dietary arginine on growth, feed conversion, protein productive value and carcass composition of fingerling Heteropneustes fossilis (10.11 ± 0.14 cm; 5.87 ± 0.07 g). Casein and gelatin-based isonitrogenous (38% crude protein) and isocaloric (14.72 kJ g−1 digestible energy) amino acid test diets with varying levels of l-arginine (1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, 2.00 and 2.25 g 100 g−1 of dry diet) were fed to randomly assigned triplicate groups of fish to apparent satiation twice daily at two feeding schedules (08.00 and 17.30 h). Thermal growth coefficient (TGC; 0.86), feed conversion ratio (FCR; 1.97) and protein productive value (PPV; 0.25) were best attained by the group fed diet containing 1.75 g arginine 100 g−1 of dry diet (D4). Carcass protein content also peaked at the above level of dietary arginine whereas carcass lipid showed consistent drop with the increase in dietary arginine level up to 1.75 g 100 g−1 of dry diet. Second-degree polynomial regression analysis at 95% maximum and minimum response of thermal growth coefficient, feed conversion, protein productive value, carcass protein and lipid productive value against varying levels of dietary arginine yielded that dietary arginine in the range of 1.51–1.66 g 100 g−1 of dry diet, corresponding to 3.97–4.37 g 100 g−1 protein is adequate to optimize growth, feed conversion, protein productive value and improve carcass quality in fingerling H. fossilis.

Dietary Arginine Supplementation Affects Microvascular Development in the Small Intestine of Early-Weaned Pigs 3

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary arginine levels on microvascular development of the small intestine in early-weaned pigs. Twenty-four crossbred pigs (5.0 ± 0.3 kg body weight) were individually housed and randomly allotted to 1 of 3 diets supplemented with 0, 0.7, and 1.2% L-arginine (8 pigs per group). Pigs consumed the diets ad libitum for 10 d. We collected blood samples on d 3, 6, and 10. On d 10, 6 pigs from each group were randomly selected and killed for tissue sample collection. Compared with control pigs, dietary supplementation with 0.7% L-arginine increased (P < 0.05) jejunal concentrations of nitrite and nitrate (stable oxidation products of nitric oxide), intestinal villus height, as well as plasma proline and arginine concentrations on d 6 and 10. Dietary supplementation with 0.7% L-arginine also increased (P < 0.05) immunoreactive expression of CD34 in duodenal submucosa, ileal mucosa and submucosa, and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in duodenal submucosa, jejunal mucosa and submucosa, and ileal mucosa compared with the control and 1.2% L-arginine supplementation. Dietary supplementation with 1.2% L-arginine increased (P < 0.05) the concentration of jejunal endothelin-1 compared with the control pigs. Immunoexpression of VEGF in duodenal mucosa and plasma lysine concentrations on d 6 and 10 were lower (P < 0.05) in pigs supplemented with 1.2% L-arginine than in unsupplemented pigs. Collectively, these findings indicate that the effects of L-arginine on microvascular development are beneficial at lower levels but have adverse effects at higher intakes. Dietary supplementation with 0.7% L-arginine may be a useful method to improve microvascular development in the small intestine of early-weaned pigs.

Effects of dietary arginine levels on growth performance and body composition of juvenile grouper Epinephelus coioides

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of dietary arginine levels on growth performance and body composition of juvenile grouper Epinephelus coioides (initial weight: 16.10 ± 0.26 g per fish) in 500-L indoor flow-through circular fiberglass tanks. Diets contained six levels of l-arginine ranging from 1.78% to 3.31% of dry diet in 0.30% increments. The diets, in which 25% crude protein came from fishmeal and soybean protein concentrate, and 23% from crystalline amino acids, were formulated to simulate the amino acid profile of 48% whole chicken egg protein except for arginine. Each diet was assigned to three tanks (20 fish per tank) in a completely randomized design. Grouper were fed to apparent satiation (about 5% body weight per day at the initial 1–4 weeks and 3% body weight per day in the following 5–8 weeks) twice daily on weekdays and once daily on weekends. Weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) showed an incremental trend with increasing dietary arginine levels from 1.78% to 2.72% and remained thereafter relatively constant. Productive protein value (PPV) was poorest in fish fed the lowest arginine diet (P < 0.05) and showed no significant differences among other treatments (P > 0.05). Dietary arginine contents significantly influenced body composition. With the increase in dietary arginine, contents of total essential amino acids (EAAs), total non-EAAs and total amino acids of whole body significantly increased (P < 0.05). The retention of dietary EAA in whole body of juvenile grouper was significantly influenced by dietary arginine. Arginine retention increased with increasing dietary arginine levels from 1.78% to 2.72%, then declined above the level of 2.7% (P < 0.05). Based on broken-line regression analysis of WG against dietary arginine levels, the dietary arginine requirement of juvenile grouper E. coioides was determined as 2.7% of the diet (corresponding to 5.5% of dietary protein).

Effects of dietary supply of arginine on urinary orotic acid excretion, growth performance and blood parameters in growing mink (Mustela vison) kits fed low‐protein diets

Effects of dietary arginine levels of 1.2%, 1.7% and 2.2% of dry matter (DM) (4.8 g/16 g N, 6.4 g/16 g N and 8.0 g/16 g N, respectively) and excess dietary lysine (6.5% in DM, 22 g/16 g N) were investigated in male mink kits fed low‐protein diets supplemented with a mixture of amino acids in the growing period during 4 weeks in July‐August. Urinary excretion of orotic acid, growth performance, feed consumption, plasma concentrations of ammonia (NH3), orotic acid, urea and glucose were studied. The results showed that arginine is an essential nutrient for mink kits in the growing period and that excess dietary lysine antagonizes arginine. An arginine supply of 2.2% of DM (8.0 g/16 g N) resulted in minimum urinary excretion of orotic acid and a supply of 1.7% of DM (6.4 g/16 g N) prevented increased plasma concentrations of NH3. Growth performance was negatively affected by the low protein level in all diets. The plasma concentrations of orotic acid, urea and glucose were not affected by the dietary levels of arginine.