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Madsen JG, Kreuzer M, Silacci P, Bee G. Effect of sex and milk replacer with or without supplemental carnitine and arginine on growth characteristics, carcass, and meat quality of artificially reared low-birth weight pigs. J Anim Sci 2024; 102:skae122. [PMID: 38703031 PMCID: PMC11143478 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
This study compared milk replacer either remaining unsupplemented (CON) or supplemented with 0.5 g L-carnitine plus 16.7 g L-arginine/kg (CarArg) and fed to 48 low-birth weight (L-BtW) artificially reared piglets (24 per group) from days 7 to 28 of age. Eight farrowing series were needed to complete the study. On day 28, the lightest piglets were slaughtered, and the heaviest pigs were weaned. The heaviest pigs were weaned on day 28 and offered free access to a starter (weaning to 25 kg body weight [BW]), grower (25 to 60 kg BW), and finisher diet (60 to 96 kg BW on day 170 of age). After euthanization on days 28 and 170, blood was sampled for assessment of serum metabolite and hormone concentrations, and the semitendinosus muscle (STM) was weighed, and later subjected to enzyme activity analysis and assessment of myofiber characteristics. In the 170-d-old pigs carcass and meat quality traits were assessed. Growth data were analyzed accordingtoatwo-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), with dietary treatment and farrowing series as fixed effects, while remaining data were analyzed with dietary treatment, sex, their interaction, and farrowing series as main factors. Dietary treatments affected (P ≤ 0.049) muscle enzyme activity at both day 28, with greater citrate synthase (CS) and LDH activities and lower HAD:CS ratio in STM light portion, and lower LDH:CS ratio in STM dark portion, and 170 of age with lower HAD:CS ratio. In the starter period, CarArg pigs had greater average daily gain (P = 0.021) and average daily feed intake (P = 0.010). At slaughter, these pigs had lower (P = 0.013) glucose and greater (P = 0.022) urea serum concentrations. However, supplementing the milk replacer with carnitine and arginine had no long-term effects on growth performance, carcass composition, and meat quality of L-BtW pigs. In addition, muscle morphology and myofiber-related properties remained unaffected by the supplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes G Madsen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Kreuzer
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Switzerland, Switzerland
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Yong HEJ, Watkins OC, Mah TKL, Cracknell-Hazra VKB, Pillai RA, Selvam P, Islam MO, Sharma N, Cazenave-Gassiot A, Bendt AK, Wenk MR, Godfrey KM, Lewis RM, Chan SY. Increasing maternal age associates with lower placental CPT1B mRNA expression and acylcarnitines, particularly in overweight women. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1166827. [PMID: 37275238 PMCID: PMC10232777 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1166827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Older pregnant women have increased risks of complications including gestational diabetes and stillbirth. Carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT) expression declines with age in several tissues and is linked with poorer metabolic health. Mitochondrial CPTs catalyze acylcarnitine synthesis, which facilitates fatty acid oxidization as fuel. We hypothesized that the placenta, containing maternally-inherited mitochondria, shows an age-related CPT decline that lowers placental acylcarnitine synthesis, increasing vulnerability to pregnancy complications. We assessed CPT1A, CPT1B, CPT1C and CPT2 mRNA expression by qPCR in 77 placentas and quantified 10 medium and long-chain acylcarnitines by LC-MS/MS in a subset of 50 placentas. Older maternal age associated with lower expression of placental CPT1B, but not CPT1A, CPT1C or CPT2. CPT1B expression positively associated with eight acylcarnitines and CPT1C with three acylcarnitines, CPT1A negatively associated with nine acylcarnitines, while CPT2 did not associate with any acylcarnitine. Older maternal age associated with reductions in five acylcarnitines, only in those with BMI≥ 25 kg/m2, and not after adjusting for CPT1B expression. Our findings suggest that CPT1B is the main transferase for placental long-chain acylcarnitine synthesis, and age-related CPT1B decline may underlie decreased placental metabolic flexibility, potentially contributing to pregnancy complications in older women, particularly if they are overweight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E. J. Yong
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Oliver C. Watkins
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tania K. L. Mah
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Victoria K. B. Cracknell-Hazra
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Reshma Appukuttan Pillai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Preben Selvam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mohammad O. Islam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Neha Sharma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Amaury Cazenave-Gassiot
- Department of Biochemistry and Precision Medicine Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore Lipidomics Incubator, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anne K. Bendt
- Singapore Lipidomics Incubator, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Markus R. Wenk
- Department of Biochemistry and Precision Medicine Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore Lipidomics Incubator, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Keith M. Godfrey
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Rohan M. Lewis
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute of Developmental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Shiao-Yng Chan
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Wang JG, Rahimnejad S, Liu YC, Ren J, Qiao F, Zhang ML, Du ZY, Luo Y. Dietary L-carnitine supplementation affects flesh quality through modifying the nutritional value and myofibers morphological characteristics in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Anim Feed Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2022.115432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Greenhalgh S, Hamilton EJ, Macelline SP, Toghyani M, Chrystal PV, Liu SY, Selle PH. Dietary crude protein concentrations and L-carnitine inclusions interactively influence performance parameters of grower broiler chickens offered sorghum-based diets. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2022.115392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Zhang S, Wu Z, Heng J, Tian M, Chen J, Chen F, Guan W. L-carnitine increases cell proliferation and amino acid transporter expression via the activation of insulin-like growth factor I signaling pathway in rat trophoblast cells. Food Sci Nutr 2020; 8:3298-3307. [PMID: 32724594 PMCID: PMC7382193 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.1607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Early embryo implantation and development is primarily determined by the homeostasis between cellular apoptosis and proliferation as well as placental nutrient transporters. Recent studies showed that L-carnitine enhances female reproductive performance. However, the potential function of L-carnitine on placenta is largely unknown. In our study, primary rat trophoblast cells were separated and cultured for 12 hr in medium containing various concentrations of L-carnitine (0, 1, 10, and 50 mM). Placenta trophoblast cells treated with 50 mM L-carnitine increased the proportion of cells in S phase of the cell cycle (p < .05). In addition, live cell percentage was increased when treated with either 10 mM or 50 mM L-carnitine, which was accompanied with decreased necrotic cells, late apoptotic cells, and early apoptotic cells (p < .05). Compared with the control treatment, the mRNA expression of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-1R) was higher in rat placenta trophoblasts treated with either 10 mM or 50 mM L-carnitine (p < .05). Similarly, sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporter (SNAT)-1 and SNAT2 were up-regulated in both mRNA and protein levels when trophoblast cells were treated with 50 mM L-carnitine (p < .05). Inhibiting downstream targets (Akt or ERK signaling pathways) of IGF-1 signaling pathway partially blocked the effect the L-carnitine-induced increase in protein abundances of SNAT1 and SNAT2. Collectively, our data showed protective role of L-carnitine on placenta trophoblast cells through the involvement of IGF-1 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihai Zhang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition ControlCollege of Animal ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine IndustrySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhihui Wu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition ControlCollege of Animal ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine IndustrySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Jinghui Heng
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition ControlCollege of Animal ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine IndustrySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Min Tian
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition ControlCollege of Animal ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine IndustrySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Jiaming Chen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition ControlCollege of Animal ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine IndustrySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Fang Chen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition ControlCollege of Animal ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine IndustrySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Wutai Guan
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition ControlCollege of Animal ScienceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- College of Animal Science and National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine IndustrySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
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Ringseis R, Keller J, Eder K. Basic mechanisms of the regulation of L-carnitine status in monogastrics and efficacy of L-carnitine as a feed additive in pigs and poultry. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2018; 102:1686-1719. [PMID: 29992642 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
A great number of studies have investigated the potential of L-carnitine as feed additive to improve performance of different monogastric and ruminant livestock species, with, however, discrepant outcomes. In order to understand the reasons for these discrepant outcomes, it is important to consider the determinants of L-carnitine status and how L-carnitine status is regulated in the animal's body. While it is a long-known fact that L-carnitine is endogenously biosynthesized in certain tissues, it was only recently recognized that critical determinants of L-carnitine status, such as intestinal L-carnitine absorption, tissue L-carnitine uptake, endogenous L-carnitine synthesis and renal L-carnitine reabsorption, are regulated by specific nutrient sensing nuclear receptors. This review aims to give a more in-depth understanding of the basic mechanisms of the regulation of L-carnitine status in monogastrics taking into account the most recent evidence on nutrient sensing nuclear receptors and evaluates the efficacy of L-carnitine as feed additive in monogastric livestock by providing an up-to-date overview about studies with L-carnitine supplementation in pigs and poultry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Ringseis
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Nutrition Physiology, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Janine Keller
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Nutrition Physiology, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Klaus Eder
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Nutrition Physiology, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
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Effects of l-carnitine in the distillers dried grains with solubles diet of sows on reproductive performance and antioxidant status of sows and their offspring. Animal 2018; 13:1448-1457. [PMID: 30466497 DOI: 10.1017/s1751731118003105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are highly susceptible to lipid oxidation because DDGS contain about 10% crude fat, which is largely composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids. l-carnitine serves an important function in fatty acids β-oxidation, and also has antioxidant properties. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of l-carnitine in the DDGS diet of gestating and lactating sows on reproductive performance, milk composition and antioxidant status of sows and their offspring. One hundred and twenty sows (Landrace×Large white, mean parity 4.2, initial BW 230 kg) were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments (n=30 sows/treatment). Treatments were arranged as a 2×2 factorial with two levels of dietary DDGS (0 v. 250 g/kg in gestating diets and 400 g/kg in lactating diets) and two levels of dietary l-carnitine (0 v. 100 mg/kg in gestating diets and 0 v. 200 mg/kg in lactating diets). Distillers dried grains with solubles had no significant effect on litter size but significantly reduced the birth weights and weaning weights of piglets (P0.05). Supplementing the diets with l-carnitine had no significant effect of total litter size (P>0.05) but increased the number of piglets born alive and piglets weaned, birth weight and weaning weight of piglets and litter weight at birth and weaning (P<0.05). l-carnitine supplementation also increased the concentration of l-carnitine in milk and l-carnitine status of piglets (P<0.05). The antioxidant enzyme activities of new born and weaning piglets were increased (P<0.05) by maternal dietary l-carnitine but this did not extend to finishing pigs. In conclusion, including DDGS in the sows diet could induce oxidative stress, which may be associated with the reduced individual birth and weaning weight of piglets. Dietary l-carnitine supplementation improved the antioxidant and l-carnitine status of sows, which may be associated with the improved reproduction and piglet performance and the antioxidant status of piglets at birth and weaning. There were no interactions between DDGS and l-carnitine.
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Ringseis R, Keller J, Eder K. Regulation of carnitine status in ruminants and efficacy of carnitine supplementation on performance and health aspects of ruminant livestock: a review. Arch Anim Nutr 2018; 72:1-30. [PMID: 29313385 DOI: 10.1080/1745039x.2017.1421340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Carnitine has long been known to play a critical role for energy metabolism. Due to this, a large number of studies have been carried out to investigate the potential of supplemental carnitine in improving performance of livestock animals including ruminants, with however largely inconsistent results. An important issue that has to be considered when using carnitine as a feed additive is that the efficacy of supplemental carnitine is probably dependent on the animal's carnitine status, which is affected by endogenous carnitine synthesis, carnitine uptake from the gastrointestinal tract and carnitine excretion. The present review aims to summarise the current knowledge of the regulation of carnitine status and carnitine homeostasis in ruminants, and comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of carnitine supplementation on performance and/or health in ruminant livestock by comparing the outcomes of studies with carnitine supplementation in dairy cattle, growing and finishing cattle and sheep. While most of the studies show that supplemental carnitine, even in ruminally unprotected form, is bioavailable in ruminants, its effect on either milk or growth performance is largely disappointing. However, supplemental carnitine appears to be a useful strategy to offer protection against ammonia toxicity caused by consumption of high levels of non-protein N or forages with high levels of soluble N both, in cattle and sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Ringseis
- a Institute of Animal Nutrition and Nutrition Physiology , Justus-Liebig-University Gießen , Gießen , Germany
| | - Janine Keller
- a Institute of Animal Nutrition and Nutrition Physiology , Justus-Liebig-University Gießen , Gießen , Germany
| | - Klaus Eder
- a Institute of Animal Nutrition and Nutrition Physiology , Justus-Liebig-University Gießen , Gießen , Germany
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Zhang S, Tian M, Song H, Shi K, Wang Y, Guan W. Effects of L-carnitine on reproductive performance, milk composition, placental development and IGF concentrations in blood plasma and placental chorions in sows. Arch Anim Nutr 2018; 72:261-274. [DOI: 10.1080/1745039x.2018.1471185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shihai Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Tian
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hanqing Song
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kui Shi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yijiang Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wutai Guan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Rosenbaum S, Ringseis R, Most E, Hillen S, Becker S, Erhardt G, Reiner G, Eder K. Genes involved in carnitine synthesis and carnitine uptake are up-regulated in the liver of sows during lactation. Acta Vet Scand 2013; 55:24. [PMID: 23497718 PMCID: PMC3608077 DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-55-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Convincing evidence exist that carnitine synthesis and uptake of carnitine into cells is regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARA), a transcription factor which is physiologically activated during fasting or energy deprivation. Sows are typically in a negative energy balance during peak lactation. We investigated the hypothesis that genes involved in carnitine synthesis and uptake in the liver of sows are up-regulated during peak lactation. Findings Transcript levels of several PPARα target genes involved in fatty acid uptake (FABP4, SLC25A20), fatty acid oxidation (ACOX1, CYP4A24) and ketogenesis (HMGCS2, FGF21) were elevated in the liver of lactating compared to non-lactating sows (P < 0.05). In addition, transcript levels of genes involved in carnitine synthesis (ALDH9A1, TMLHE, BBOX1) and carnitine uptake (SLC22A5) in the liver were greater in lactating than in non-lactating sows (P < 0.05). Carnitine concentrations in liver and plasma were about 20% and 50%, respectively, lower in lactating than in non-lactating sows (P < 0.05), which is likely due to an increased loss of carnitine via the milk. Conclusions The results of the present study show that PPARα is activated in the liver of sows during lactation which leads to an up-regulation of genes involved in carnitine synthesis and carnitine uptake. The PPARα mediated up-regulation of genes involved in carnitine synthesis and uptake in the liver of lactating sows may be regarded as an adaptive mechanism to maintain hepatic carnitine levels at a level sufficient to transport excessive amounts of fatty acids into the mitochondrion.
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Dunning KR, Robker RL. Promoting lipid utilization with l-carnitine to improve oocyte quality. Anim Reprod Sci 2012; 134:69-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2012.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Keller J, Ringseis R, Priebe S, Guthke R, Kluge H, Eder K. Effect of L-carnitine on the hepatic transcript profile in piglets as animal model. Nutr Metab (Lond) 2011; 8:76. [PMID: 22040461 PMCID: PMC3216248 DOI: 10.1186/1743-7075-8-76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2011] [Accepted: 10/31/2011] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Carnitine has attracted scientific interest due to several health-related effects, like protection against neurodegeneration, mitochondrial decay, and oxidative stress as well as improvement of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. The mechanisms underlying most of the health-related effects of carnitine are largely unknown. Methods To gain insight into mechanisms through which carnitine exerts its beneficial metabolic effects, we fed piglets either a control or a carnitine supplemented diet, and analysed the transcriptome in the liver. Results Transcript profiling revealed 563 genes to be differentially expressed in liver by carnitine supplementation. Clustering analysis of the identified genes revealed that most of the top-ranked annotation term clusters were dealing with metabolic processes. Representative genes of these clusters which were significantly up-regulated by carnitine were involved in cellular fatty acid uptake, fatty acid activation, fatty acid β-oxidation, glucose uptake, and glycolysis. In contrast, genes involved in gluconeogenesis were down-regulated by carnitine. Moreover, clustering analysis identified genes involved in the insulin signaling cascade to be significantly associated with carnitine supplementation. Furthermore, clustering analysis revealed that biological processes dealing with posttranscriptional RNA processing were significantly associated with carnitine supplementation. Conclusion The data suggest that carnitine supplementation has beneficial effects on lipid and glucose homeostasis by inducing genes involved in fatty acid catabolism and glycolysis and repressing genes involved in gluconeogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Keller
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Nutrition Physiology, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Gießen, Germany.
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