| Institution: | 1. Division for Experimental Natural Science, Faculty of Arts and Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan;2. Department of Bioresource Science, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan;3. Department of Bioresource Sciences, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan;4. Department of Bioresource Sciences, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
Agriculture Research Center, Animal Production Research Institute, Agriculture Ministry, Cairo, Egypt;5. Department of Biochemistry, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan;6. Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan |
| Abstract: | We examined the effects of oral administration of L-citrulline (L-Cit) on plasma metabolic hormones and biochemical profile in broilers. Food intake, water intake, and body temperature were also analyzed. After dual oral administration (20 mmol/head/administration) of L-Cit, broilers were exposed to a high ambient temperature (HT; 30 ± 1°C) chamber for 120 min. Oral administration of L-Cit reduced (p < .001) rectal temperature in broilers. Food intake was increased (p < .05) by heat stress, but it was reduced (p < .05) by L-Cit. Plasma levels of 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine, which initially increased (p < .0001) due to heat stress, were reduced (p < .01) by oral administration of L-Cit. Plasma insulin levels were increased by heat exposure (p < .01) and oral L-Cit (p < .05). Heat stress caused a decline (p < .05) in plasma thyroxine. Plasma lactic acid (p < .05) and non-esterified fatty acids (p < .01) were increased in L-Cit-treated heat-exposed broilers. In conclusion, our results suggest that oral L-Cit can modulate plasma concentrations of major metabolic hormones and reduces food intake in broilers. |
