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Glutamine and carbon turnover in adipose tissue of piglets

The objective of this work was to verify the glutamine influence on carbon turnover of adipose tissue of piglets. Forty piglets were weaned on the 21st day, and were distributed, at random, into two treatments: T1, diet of C3 plants, without glutamine supplementation; and T2, diet of C3 plants, supplemented with 1% glutamine. On days 0, 1, 3, 5, 8, 11, 15, 20, 29 and 46 postweaning, two piglets by treatment were slaughtered; samples of the adipose tissue were collected and analyzed as for their carbon isotopic composition, and carbon substitution was measured, in function of time. In the first week postweaning, there was no alteration of the isotopic values, because the animals in this phase used their fat corporal reserve. After this period, the adipose tissue began to incorporate the isotopic signal of the ration, which indicates the onset of body fat deposition. In animals supplemented with glutamine, carbon incorporation in the fatty tissue was faster. Fat reserve acquired during the suckling period have an important role in the maintenance of the animals, during approximately one week postweaning; and glutamine helps in body fat deposition retaking after this period.

carbon-13; weaning; glutamine; corporal reserve; swine


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