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Supplementation with branched-chain amino acids to a low-protein diet regulates intestinal expression of amino acid and peptide transporters in weanling pigs

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Abstract

This study determined the effects of dietary branched-chain amino acids (AA) (BCAA) on growth performance, expression of jejunal AA and peptide transporters, and the colonic microflora of weanling piglets fed a low-protein (LP) diet. One hundred and eight Large White × Landrace × Duroc piglets (weaned at 28 days of age) were fed a normal protein diet (NP, 20.9 % crude protein), an LP diet (LP, 17.1 % crude protein), or an LP diet supplemented with BCAA (LP + BCAA, 17.9 % crude protein) for 14 days. Dietary protein restriction reduced piglet growth performance and small-intestinal villous height, which were restored by BCAA supplementation to the LP diet to values for the NP diet. Serum concentrations of BCAA were reduced in piglets fed the LP diet while those in piglets fed the LP + BCAA diet were similar to values for the NP group. mRNA levels for Na+-neutral AA exchanger-2, cationic AA transporter-1, b0,+ AA transporter, and 4F2 heavy chain were more abundant in piglets fed the LP + BCAA diet than the LP diet. However, mRNA and protein levels for peptide transporter-1 were lower in piglets fed the LP + BCAA diet as compared to the LP diet. The colonic microflora did not differ among the three groups of pigs. In conclusion, growth performance, intestinal development, and intestinal expression of AA transporters in weanling piglets are enhanced by BCAA supplementation to LP diets. Our findings provide a new molecular basis for further understanding of BCAA as functional AA in animal nutrition.

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Abbreviations

ADFI:

Average daily feed intake

ADG:

Average daily gain of body weight

ASCT2:

Na+-neutral AA exchanger 2

BCAA:

Branched-chain amino acids

B0AT1:

System B0 neutral AA transporter

CAT1:

Cationic amino acid transporter 1

CP:

Crude protein

DGGE:

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

4F2hc:

4F2 heavy chain

LP:

Low protein

mTOR:

Mammalian target of rapamycin

NP:

Normal protein

PepT-1:

Peptide transporter 1

rBAT:

Related to b0,+ amino acid transporter

RT-PCR:

Real-time polymerase chain reaction

VFA:

Volatile fatty acids

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by National Key Basic Research Program (2012CB124704 and 2013CB127302), NSFC (31272217 and 31272450), Chinese Universities Scientific Funds (2012RC024), and the Thousand-People-Talent program at China Agricultural University, and Texas AgriLife Research (No. 8200).

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, No. 2. Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing, 100193, China

    Shihai Zhang, Shiyan Qiao, Man Ren, Xiangfang Zeng, Xi Ma, Zhenlong Wu & Guoyao Wu

  2. Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    Philip Thacker

  3. Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Guoyao Wu

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  1. Shihai Zhang
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  2. Shiyan Qiao
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Correspondence to Shiyan Qiao or Guoyao Wu.

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Zhang, S., Qiao, S., Ren, M. et al. Supplementation with branched-chain amino acids to a low-protein diet regulates intestinal expression of amino acid and peptide transporters in weanling pigs. Amino Acids 45, 1191–1205 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-013-1577-y

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