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The present work focused on examining the function of rumen-protected L-arginine (RP-Arg) or N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) in jejunal oxidative resistance, integrity and immune function in the ovine foetal model of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Thirty-two twin-bearing Hu ewes at d 35 of gestation were randomised as 4 treatment groups (n = 8 each): Control (CON), received 100% of the recommended National Research Council (NRC) for pregnancy; Restricted (RES), received 50% of the recommended NRC for pregnancy; RES + ARG, RES ewes added with 20 g/d of RP-Arg; or RES + NCG treatment, RES ewes added with 5 g/d of NCG. Foetal jejunal samples were collected on d 110 of pregnancy and were assayed for biomarkers of oxidative damage, integrity and immune function. The villus height was elevated (p

Little is known how L-arginine (Arg) affects the ovine intestinal epithelial cells (IOECs) redox status induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This study aimed to examine the impact of Arg on IOECs subjected to H2O2-induced oxidative damage, intestinal barrier injury, and inflammatory response. The IOECs were incubated for 16 h then classified as four groups (n = 6/group) and cultured in corresponding media including (1) control (CON) group, in which IOECs were cultured in Arg-free Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s F12 Ham medium (DMEM) containing 100 μM Arg; (2) Arg group, in which IOECs were cultured in Arg-free DMEM containing 350 μM Arg; (3) H2O2 group, in which IOECs were cultured in CON group plus 150 μM H2O2; (4) Arg + H2O2 group, in which IOECs were cultured in Arg group plus150 μM H2O2. After culturing for 24 h in media, some characteristics of cells in the four groups were measured. Arg administration decreased the H2O2-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production compared with the H2O2 group (p

This study aimed at estimating the trace minerals net requirements for maintenance and growth of Dorper × Hu ram lambs using the comparative slaughter techniques in 35 lambs of 35–50 kg body weight (BW). Seven lambs were slaughtered at the initial BW (34.93 ± 0.37 kg) to determine the basal whole-body composition. Another seven lambs were fed ad libitum (AL) and then slaughtered when it reached 41.73 ± 0.53 kg BW. The remained 21 lambs were assigned into three treatment groups, seven animals each, and fed 100, 70 or 40% of AL intake, respectively, and were slaughtered when they reached a BW of 49.93 ± 1.03 kg. The net requirements of maintenance were 5.1, 429.3, 94.0 and 48.8 µg/kg empty BW (EBW) for Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu, respectively. The net requirements of growth at 35 kg BW were 0.86, 70.41, 33.46 and 4.31 mg/kg EBW for Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu, respectively. At a BW of 50 kg, the net growth requirements were 0.93, 68.40, 35.20 and 4.15 mg/kg EBW for Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu, respectively. Our data indicated that the Mn and Zn requirements increase, whereas those of Fe and Cu decrease when BW increases. In addition, the net Cu, Mn and Fe requirements for maintenance and Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe requirements for growth of Dorper × Hu hybrid ram lambs were higher than those reported in the NRC but Zn requirements for maintenance matched that of the NRC.Highlights Trace minerals requirements for maintenance and growth vary with sheep genotype or breed. The comparative slaughter method could be a reliable tool for estimating the net requirements of trace minerals in Dorper × Hu ram lambs. Our estimated values for maintenance (Cu, Mn and Fe) and growth (Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe) requirements were higher than those reported in the NRC ().