Effects of supplementation with different concentrations of L-citrulline on the plasma amino acid concentration, reproductive hormone concentrations, antioxidant capacity, and reproductive performance of Hu ewes
Yan Ma A # , Guodong Zhao
A # , Caidie Wang A , Min An A , Chen Ma A , Zhiqiang Liu B , Jianguo Wang B and Kailun Yang A # *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
B Xinjiang Shangpin Meiyang Technology Co., Ltd, Changji 831100, China.
* Correspondence to: ykl@xjau.edu.cn
# These authors contributed equally to this paper
Handling Editor: Edward Clayton
Animal Production Science 63(9) 853-861 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN22290
Submitted: 20 April 2022 Accepted: 27 February 2023 Published: 4 April 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Context: L-citrulline (L-Cit) does not degrade in the rumen and has the ability to form peptide bonds in the body; however, it does not participate in protein synthesis.
Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of L-Cit on the reproductive performance of Hu ewes.
Methods: In total, 30 ewes were randomly categorised into five groups. The control group was fed with a basic diet, whereas the Experimental Groups I, II, III, and IV were provided feed supplemented with 5, 10, 15, and 20 g/day of L-Cit respectively. Blood samples of ewes were collected 4 h after feeding on Day 21 of the experiment and before feeding on Day 30. The optimal supplementary feeding dose was selected on the basis of blood biochemical indexes. Overall, ninety 2-year-old ewes were classified into two groups. The control group was fed with a basic diet and the experimental group was fed with a diet supplemented with 10 g/day of L-Cit. After 30 days of supplementary feeding, reproductive performance of ewes was determined.
Key results: The plasma concentrations of Cit, ornithine, and arginine in ewes increased linearly with an increase in the level of L-Cit supplementation. The plasma concentrations of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinising hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone in the experimental group increased significantly compared with those in the control group. The plasma total antioxidant capacity and catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group, whereas the concentrations of malondialdehyde in all experimental groups were significantly lower than those in the control group. The conception, lambing, and double lambing rates of the experimental group were increased by 28.76%, 15.90%, and 40.21% respectively.
Conclusions: Supplementation with different doses of L-Cit can improve the concentrations of some plasma amino acids and reproductive hormones as well as antioxidant capacity of ewes. Supplementary feeding with 10 g/day of L-Cit could increase the lambing and double lambing rates of ewes.
Implication: L-Cit can improve the reproductive performance of ewes.
Keywords: amino acid, antioxidant capacity, ewes, hormone, hormone level, Hu sheep, L-Cit, reproduction.
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