克伦特罗对绵羊肝脏挥发性脂肪酸和糖代谢的影响

在 4头门静脉、肝静脉、颈静脉、肠系膜静脉和股动脉上安装血管导管的绵羊中研究了克伦特罗 (CL ,0 8mg/kgBW ,肠系膜静脉给药每天 2次 ,连续 5d)对其肝脏物质代谢的影响。结果表明 :CL可增加绵羊肝脏中的VFA流量 ,其中门静脉处乙酸、丙酸和丁酸的流量分别较对照期增加 19 4 9% (P <0 .0 1)、2 0 2 % (P >0 .0 5 )和4 5 5 % (P >0 .0 5 ) ,而肝静脉处VFA流量两期水平接近。CL也提高肝脏中葡萄糖的异生作用 ,在肝静脉处血中葡萄糖流量上升了 2 5 96 % (P <0 .0 1)。门静脉处血中葡萄糖循环水平也相应提高。此外在CL作用下肝静脉处胰岛素水平也较对照期有所下降。提示CL可增加进入绵羊肝脏中VFA的流量并促进肝脏对VFA的吸收和利用。通过降低胰岛素水平或对肝脏的直接作用CL还可增加绵羊血中葡萄糖的水平     

添喂海南霉素对山羊肝脏胰岛素样生长因子的影响

胰岛素样生长因子 -I(IGF -I)是哺乳动物下丘脑—垂体—靶器官生长轴的终端 ,在动物生长过程中起着重要作用。它的浓度变化与生长速度呈正相关。此外 ,它参与泌乳、生殖以及免疫等功能的调节。肝脏具有丰富的生长激素受体 ,是产生IGF -I代谢的主要器官。研究IGF -I在肝脏的产生量及其调节是十分有兴趣的领域。本文根据我室有关“海南霉素能够调节反刍动物瘤胃微生物发酵提高丙酸产生量 ,改善葡萄糖代谢和蛋白质的利用”的研究结果 ,深入观察其对肝脏IGF -I代谢的影响。试验在8头同时装有门静脉、肝静脉、股动脉、股静脉和肠系膜静脉慢性血管瘘的生长羯山羊上进行 ,按自身对照设计。试验期按0.05mg/kg 体重添喂海南霉素 ,分别测门静脉、肝静脉、股动脉、股静脉的血流量和IGF -I的净流量。结果显示 ,试验期山羊门静脉、肝静脉血流量分别比对照期增加15.16 %(1.876vs1.629L/min)和10.80%(2.216vs2.000L/min)。门静脉、肝静脉和股动脉血液中IGF -I含量比对照期分别增加31.5 %(339.8vs258.4ng/ml;P<0.01)、35.83 %(355.6vs261.8ng/ml;P<0.01)和41.08%(352.0vs249.5ng/ml;P<0.01)。对照期和试验期门静脉IGF -I的净流量分别为304.9和485.9ng/min;肝动脉分别为294.4ng/min(P<0.05)和502.7ng/min ;肝静脉分别为40     

添喂海南霉素对山羊肝脏含氮化合物代谢的影响

肝脏是体内十分主要的代谢器官 ,本试验在有关海南霉素对反刍动物消化代谢的影响研究的基础上 ,进一步探讨添喂海南霉素后对肝脏中含氮化合物代谢的影响。试验在8头同时装有门静脉、肝静脉、股动脉、股静脉和肠系膜静脉慢性血管瘘的羯山羊上进行 ,按自身对照设计。试验期按0.05mg/kg 体重添喂海南霉素 ,分别测门静脉引流区和肝脏中氨氮(NH3-N)、α -氨基氮(α -AAN)和尿素氮(Ure -N)净流量。结果显示 ,添喂海南霉素使肝静脉血流量分别增加15.16 %和10.80 %,门静脉、肝静脉中NH3-N浓度明显降低(P<0.01) ,而α -氨基氮(α -AAN)浓度显著升高(P<0.05)。结果表明 ,海南霉素能够提高山羊门静脉引流区氨基酸的吸收量 ,提高蛋白质的利用效率     

外源性半胱胺对山羊门静脉和肝脏中激素和营养物流量的影响

采用6只体重(18.97±1.80)kg、健康雄性去势山羊,同时安装颈静脉、门静脉、肝静脉、肠系膜静脉以及股动脉慢性血管瘘。采用自身对照试验,研究半胱胺对山羊血流量、激素流量和碳氮化合物吸收及在肝脏代谢的影响。试验结果显示,从颈静脉一次注入半胱胺(50 mg/kg BW)后,3 d门静脉、肝静脉全血流量分别比对照(-2d)提高21.81%(P<0.01)、10.21%(P<0.05);血浆流量相应提高23.08%(P<0.05)、15.05%(P<0.05);6 d与-2 d血液流量接近。在-2 d、3 d、6 d 3个采样日,肝脏IGF-1净生成量相应为47.57,67.58(P<0.05)和44.76μg/min;肝脏胰岛素净利用量相应为2.32,3.17和2.23 mU/min,无显著差异;胰高血糖素肝脏净利用量分别为1.71,3.25(P<0.05)和1.02 ng/min。结果表明,从颈静脉注入半胱胺后,肝脏有净乙酸和葡萄糖生成,分别较对照提高12.71%和50.59%(P<0.05);3 d6、d比-2 d在门静脉的NEFA净流量分别提高32.25%和9.67%;肝脏NEFA净流量在试验期3 d和6 d分别比对照提高4.57倍(P<0.01)和4.14倍(P<0.01),表明经CS处理后,山羊肝脏有NEFA合成。门静脉α-氨基氮、NH3-N净流量在第3天分别高于对照36.36%和27.23%,尿素氮净流量也有增高趋势,但差异均未达到显著水平。     

十二指肠灌注色氨酸对绵羊门静脉血浆中褪黑素和色氨酸代谢产物浓度的影响

试验旨在研究十二指肠灌注色氨酸对绵羊肠道吸收进入门静脉血中褪黑素及色氨酸代谢产物浓度的影响。选用4只体重（37.92±1.35）kg、10～12月龄已安装十二指肠瘘管和肝门静脉血管插管哈萨克绵羊母羊，采用自身对照试验设计进行3期灌注试验，按照先后分别为对照（n=4）组、1.2 g灌注组（n=4）、4.8 g灌注组（n=3）每天分别灌注含0、1.2、4.8 g/d的色氨酸生理盐水溶液700 mL，每期试验连续灌注4 d，并于第4天采集绵羊肝门静脉16个动态时间点血液，测定血浆中褪黑素、5-羟色胺、色氨酸和犬尿氨酸。结果表明：对照组绵羊肝门静脉血浆中褪黑素无明显的昼夜节律，饲喂后有提高趋势，4.8 g灌注组提高了绵羊门静脉血浆中褪黑素浓度（P<0.01）；白天饲喂后绵羊门静脉血浆中5-羟色胺浓度高于夜间；十二指肠灌注色氨酸能提高绵羊门静脉血浆中色氨酸和犬尿氨酸浓度（P<0.01），并且随着色氨酸灌注剂量的提高绵羊门静脉血浆中色氨酸和犬尿氨酸浓度也随之提高。可见，绵羊门静脉血浆中褪黑素浓度呈白昼低、夜间和凌晨高的变化规律，白昼期间的浓度与采食有关，5-羟色胺浓度的变化规律与褪黑素...     

十二指肠灌注不同水平的玉米淀粉对生长肥育绵羊小肠内葡萄糖消化及吸收的影响

本试验采用4×4的随机区组设计 ,选用5只带有瘤胃、十二指肠近端和回肠末端瘘管的试验羊进行颈动脉、肠系膜静脉、门静脉和肝静脉血管插管的安装 ,并进行十二指肠淀粉灌注试验 ,其中进入十二指肠的淀粉水平分别为33.61g/d、100g/d、150g/d和200g/d(十二指肠淀粉灌注量分别为0、66.39、116.39和166.39g/d)。研究结果表明 :随着十二指肠淀粉灌注水平的提高 ,淀粉在小肠的消化量随之增加 ,而淀粉在小肠的消化率却随之下降 ;绵羊门静脉葡萄糖净流量、肝脏葡萄糖净生成量、肝静脉葡萄糖流量和胰高血糖素/胰岛素比随之提高。但当进入十二指肠的淀粉水平达到150g/d和200g/d时 ,绵羊门静脉葡萄糖净流量、肝脏葡萄糖净生成量、肝静脉的葡萄糖流量和胰高血糖素/胰岛素比出现平台期 ,这表明提高外源性葡萄糖的供应量 ,可促进绵羊门静脉葡萄糖净流量、肝脏葡萄糖净生成量以及肝静脉的葡萄糖流量 ;绵羊小肠对过瘤胃淀粉的消化和吸收的“度”值为150g/d(11.6g/kgW0.75/d)。另外 ,未进行十二指肠淀粉灌注的绵羊门静脉葡萄糖净流量出现负值 ,表明绵羊肠道组织对葡萄糖的消耗量大于被门静脉吸收的葡萄糖量。试验中还发现 ,过瘤胃淀粉在小肠中的消失量 (X)与PDV组织的葡萄糖消耗量 (Y)之间存在显著的相关关系 ,其回归公式     

添喂海南霉素对山羊肝脏碳水化合物代谢及调节的影响

海南霉素是我国生产的第一个聚醚类离子载体抗生素。我们的前期研究表明 ,添喂海南霉素时 ,瘤胃发酵类型发生改变 ,C2/C3 降低。本试验主要进一步研究海南霉素对能量物质吸收、代谢及调节的影响。试验在8头同时装有门静脉、肝静脉、股动脉、股静脉和肠系膜静脉慢性血管瘘的羯山羊(平均体重16.0±2.2kg)上进行 ,按自身对照设计。试验期按0.05mg/kg体重添喂海南霉素。分别测门静脉引流区和肝脏静脉挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)、游离脂肪酸(FFA)、葡萄糖(GS)以及胰岛素和胰高血糖素的净流量。结果显示 ,喂海南霉素使门静脉TVFA和丙酸净流量分别升高24.44 %(3.36vs2.70mmol/min,P<0.05)和84.48 %(1.07vs0.58mmol/min,P<0.05) ,GS和FFA净流量都明显提高(P<0.05)。肝脏乙酸(P<0.05)和丙酸(P<0.01)净流量明显减少 ,GS净流量无明显变化(P>0.05) ,FFA净流量明显降低(P<0.05)。门静脉、肝静脉中胰岛素净流量分别减少66.95 %(11.81vs35.73mU/min)和52.09 %(10.76vs22.64ng/min,P<0.05) ,而胰高血糖素净流量分别比对照期升高50.19 %(19.78vs13.17ng/ml;P>0.05)和307.63 %(4.81vs1.18ng/ml;P<0.05)。结果表明 ,添喂海南霉素能使VFA的吸收量增加 ,促进肝脏中丙酸异生成葡萄糖 ,及乙酸转化成脂肪酸。胰岛素与胰高血糖素的比值(I/     

腹腔镜手术安装山羊肠系膜静脉、门静脉和肝静脉血管瘘管的方法及体会

肠系膜静脉、门静脉和肝静脉等多血管瘘管安装技术是研究营养物质在门静脉排流组(PDV组织)及肝脏中转化和利用的关键技术,对研究机体代谢具有重要意义。本文介绍了一套经过多年操作实践研究应用的悬吊式腹腔镜"三孔法"手术安装山羊肠系膜静脉、门静脉和肝静脉血管瘘管的操作方法。     

氨基酸平衡低蛋白日粮对仔猪血清生理生化指标及肝脏关键代谢标志物的影响

低蛋白日粮往往引起肝脏IGF-I分泌降低,导致仔猪生长受限。为探讨其机制,本文采用代谢组学方法研究了肝脏关键代谢物对低蛋白的响应。试验选用体重接近的28日龄杜×长×大三元杂断奶仔猪18头,随机分为3组,每组6个重复。分别饲喂20%、17%和14%粗蛋白日粮并添加赖氨酸、蛋氨酸、色氨酸及苏氨酸达到NRC水平。预饲期5 d,正式试验30 d。结果表明:随着日粮蛋白水平的降低,血清中尿素氮、胰岛素、IGF-I含量,以及肝脏IGF-Im RNA表达水平亦随着降低。代谢组学研究表明,α-酮异戊酸和缬氨酸在14%CP日粮组显著降低;与此相反,血清总胆固醇、游离脂肪酸和肝脏IGFBP-1的m RNA表达水平却有所升高(P0.05)。研究结果表明,低蛋白日粮造成仔猪生长受限与肝脏IGF-I和IGFBP-1的表达有关。肝脏缬氨酸和α-酮异戊酸等代谢关键物有可能在此过程中发挥重要作用。     

羊肝、门、肠系膜静脉和颈动脉血管瘘管手术安装及体会

肝、门、肠系膜静脉和颈动脉血管瘘管手术是研究肝脏和PDV组织代谢的重要手段。笔者于2000年～2010年期间,先后在50多只试验羊上安装了慢性肝静脉、门静脉、肠系膜静脉和颈动脉多血管瘘管,建立了较为完善的手术安装方法。本文就该方法及个人的一些体会进行了介绍。     

Effect of increasing ruminal butyrate absorption on splanchnic metabolism of volatile fatty acids absorbed from the washed reticulorumen of steers

Four steers fitted with a ruminal cannula and chronic indwelling catheters in the mesenteric artery, mesenteric vein, hepatic portal vein, hepatic vein, and the right ruminal vein were used to study the absorption and metabolism of VFA from bicarbonate buffers incubated in the temporarily emptied and washed reticulorumen. Portal and hepatic vein blood flows were determined by infusion of p-aminohippurate into the mesenteric vein, and portal VFA fluxes were calibrated by infusion of isovalerate into the ruminal vein. The steers were subjected to four experimental treatments in a Latin square design with four periods within 1 d. The treatments were Control (bicarbonate buffer) and VFA buffers containing 4, 12, or 36 mmol butyrate/kg of buffer, respectively. The acetate content of the buffers was decreased with increasing butyrate to balance the acidity. The butyrate absorption from the rumen was 39, 111, and 300 +/- 4 mmol/h for the three VFA buffers, respectively. The ruminal absorption rates of propionate (260 +/- 12 mmol/h), isobutyrate (11.4 +/- 0.7 mmol/h), and valerate (17.3 +/- 0.7 mmol/h) were not affected by VFA buffers. The portal recovery of butyrate and valerate absorbed from the rumen increased (P < 0.01) with increasing butyrate absorption and reached 52 to 54 +/- 4% with the greatest butyrate absorption. The liver responded to the increased butyrate absorption with a decreasing fractional extraction of propionate and butyrate, and with the greatest butyrate absorption, the splanchnic flux was 22 +/- 1% and 18 +/- 1% of the absorbed propionate and butyrate, respectively. The increased propionate and butyrate release to peripheral tissues was followed by increased (P < 0.05) arterial concentrations of propionate (0.08 +/- 0.01 mmol/kg) and butyrate (0.07 +/- 0.01 mmol/kg). Arterial insulin concentration increased (P = 0.01) with incubation of VFA buffers compared with Control and was numerically greatest with the greatest level of butyrate absorption. We conclude that the capacity to metabolize butyrate by the ruminal epithelium and liver is limited. If butyrate absorption exceeds the metabolic capacity, it affects rumen epithelial and hepatic nutrient metabolism and affects the nutrient supply of peripheral tissues.     

The effect of dietary nitrogen and protein on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and nitrogen flux across the portal-drained viscera and liver of sheep consuming high-concentrate diets ad libitum

Our objectives were to determine the influences of supplemental nonprotein N or protein on feed intake, digestibility, and postabsorptive N metabolism in sheep fed a high-concentrate diet for ad libitum consumption. Nine Romanov-sired, crossbred wethers (13 mo old; 52 kg) were fitted with catheters in a mesenteric artery, mesenteric vein, portal vein, and hepatic vein. Wethers consumed a 95% concentrate diet ad libitum. Treatments consisted of control (no supplemental N; 6.6% CP) or supplemental urea (11.4% CP), soybean meal (SBM; 11.2% CP) or ruminally undegradable protein (BFM; 11.2% CP; 50:50 blood meal and feather meal). Intake or apparently digested intake of DM, OM, and energy did not differ between control and N-supplemented (P > 0.40), or between urea- and protein-supplemented (P > 0.40), but were greater (P < 0.05) in SBM- than in BFM-supplemented wethers. Intake and apparently digested intake of N were less (P < 0.01) in wethers fed the control diet than in those receiving N supplementation but were less (P = 0.03) in BFM- than in SBM-supplemented wethers. Neither portal nor hepatic venous blood flows differed (P > 0.15) among treatments. Net portal release and hepatic uptake of alpha-amino N and ammonia N and hepatic release of urea N were greater (P < 0.05) in wethers supplemented with N than in controls, but portal-drained viscera (PDV) uptake of urea N did not differ (P > 0.40) among diets. Splanchnic release of a-amino N and ammonia N did not differ from 0 or among diets (P > 0.10), but net release of urea N was less (P = 0.05) for control than for sheep receiving N supplementation. No differences (P > 0.10) in blood concentration within vessel or net flux across PDV, hepatic, or splanchnic tissues of alpha-amino N, ammonia N, or urea N were observed among wethers receiving supplemental N. Net uptake of oxygen by the PDV did not differ among diets, but hepatic uptake was less (P < 0.05) in control and urea-supplemented sheep than in sheep receiving SBM or BFM. These observations suggest that the source of supplemental N had no large effects on the overall N economy of the animals used in this study.     

Effects of adding valerate, caproate, and heptanoate to ruminal buffers on splanchnic metabolism in steers under washed-rumen conditions

Four steers fitted with a ruminal cannula and chronic indwelling catheters in the mesenteric artery, mesenteric vein, hepatic portal vein, hepatic vein, and the right ruminal vein were used to study VFA absorption from bicarbonate buffers incubated in the washed reticulorumen, and metabolism by splanchnic tissues. Portal and hepatic vein blood flows were determined by infusion of p-aminohippurate into the mesenteric vein. The steers were subjected to four experimental treatments in a Latin square design. The treatments were Control (ruminal bicarbonate buffer with [mmol/kg]: acetate = 72; propionate = 30; isobutyrate = 2.1; butyrate = 12; valerate = 1.2; caproate = 0; and heptanoate = 0); Val (same as control except for valerate = 8 mmol/kg); Cap (same as control except for caproate = 3.5 mmol/kg); and Hep (same as control except for heptanoate = 3 mmol/kg). All buffers were incubated for 90 min in the rumen, and ruminal VFA absorption rates were maintained by continuous intraruminal infusion of VFA. The arterial concentrations of valerate and heptanoate showed a small increase (< or = 1 micromol/L; P < 0.05) with inclusion of the respective acid in the ruminal buffer, but no change (P = 0.57) in arterial concentration of caproate was detected. Valerate increased (P < 0.05) the net portal flux of butyrate and valerate, as well as the net splanchnic flux of propionate, butyrate, and valerate. With Cap and Hep, the net portal flux of caproate and heptanoate accounted for 54 and 45% of ruminal disappearance rates, respectively, indicating that these acids were extensively metabolized by the ruminal epithelium. Caproate was ketogenic both in the ruminal epithelium and in the liver, and Cap increased (P < 0.05) the arterial concentration, ruminal vein minus arterial concentration difference, net hepatic flux, and net splanchnic flux of 3-hydroxybutyrate. The net hepatic flux of glucose decreased (P = 0.02) with Cap and Hep compared with Control and Val; however, no effect (P = 0.14) on the net splanchnic flux of glucose could be detected. We conclude that the strong biological activity of valerate, caproate, and heptanoate warrant increased emphasis on monitoring their ruminal presence and their potential systemic effects on ruminant metabolism.     

复合缓冲剂对奶山羊乳成分、血浆生化指标及激素含量的影响

本试验旨在研究长期饲喂高精料饲粮下添加复合缓冲剂(碳酸氢钠20 g/d、氧化镁12 g/d、丁酸钠20 g/d)对奶山羊乳成分、血浆生化指标及激素含量的影响。选择8头安装门静脉及肝静脉瘘管处于泌乳中期的奶山羊随机分为2组,分别饲喂基础饲粮(高精料饲粮组,HG组)和基础饲粮+复合缓冲剂(高精料饲粮+复合缓冲剂组,BG组)。预试期为7 d,正试期为143 d。结果显示:与HG组相比,复合缓冲剂显著升高采食后010 h瘤胃液p H平均值(P0.05);复合缓冲剂显著降低肝静脉血浆中非酯化脂肪酸的含量(P0.05),对门静脉和肝静脉血浆中葡萄糖、β-羟丁酸含量无显著影响(P0.05),对肝脏组织中甘油三酯和总蛋白含量无显著影响(P0.05);复合缓冲剂显著降低门静脉血浆中胰岛素和胰高血糖素的含量(P0.05),对门静脉和肝静脉血浆中胰岛素样生长因子1和生长激素的含量无显著影响(P0.05);复合缓冲剂显著或极显著升高产奶量、乳脂率、乳蛋白率、乳非脂固形物率(P0.05或P0.01)。综合得出,在长期高精料饲粮饲喂条件下,由碳酸氢钠、氧化镁、丁酸钠组成的复合缓冲剂能通过影响奶山羊血浆生化指标及激素含量,影响体机营养物质代谢,最终有效提高产乳量与改善乳品质。     

Oxygen uptake and net flux of metabolites by splanchnic tissues of sheep in response to short‐term mesenteric infusion of nitrogenous compounds

This study was conducted in an attempt to quantify the impact of N load on splanchnic tissues metabolism of sheep. The trial was conducted with four male sheep (45 ± 2.5 kg body weight (BW)) surgically implanted with chronic indwelling catheters into the portal, hepatic and mesenteric veins. Blood flow and metabolic flux through portal‐drained viscera (PDV), liver and total splanchnic tissues (ST) were measured daily following a 4 × 4 Latin Square experimental design, where sheep were continually infused into the mesenteric vein with a physiological saline (0.15 m NaCl) solution during 90 min followed by the infusion, during more 120 min, of either solution: physiological saline (control), 0.250 m NH₄HCO₃, 0.250 m L‐alanine or 0.125 m L‐arginine, all of them infused at a rate of 1.5 ml/min to provide 375 μmol N/min. During the treatment infusion period, the net removal of ammonia N and the net production of urea N by liver were higher (p < .05) in NH₄HCO₃ infused sheep_. Based on oxygen consumption, and on average of all treatments, the heat produced by liver and ST was on average 6 and 14 kcal/kg BW representing 16% and 38% of the metabolizable energy intake respectively. Linear relationships between variables indicated that gluconeogenesis and ureagenesis occurred concomitantly and both processes accounted for approximately 50% of total liver energy expenditure, two‐thirds of it associated with gluconeogenesis. The results of the current study did not present clear evidence of the expected energy costs associated with ammonia N, alanine or arginine metabolism by liver. However, they indicated that gluconeogenesis is on average a more energy expensive process than ureagenesis.     

Relationship between level of forage intake,blood flow and oxygen consumption by splanchnic tissues of sheep fed a tropical grass forage

Four Polwarth castrated male sheep (42 ± 4.4 kg live weight (LW) surgically implanted with chronic indwelling catheters into the mesenteric, portal and hepatic veins, housed in metabolism cages and offered Cynodon sp. hay at rates (g of dry matter (DM)/kg LW) of 7, 14, 21 or ad libitum, were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square experiment to evaluate the effect of the level of forage intake on blood flow and oxygen consumption by the portal‐drained viscera (PDV), liver and total splanchnic tissues (ST). The portal blood flow and the oxygen consumption by PDV linearly increased at increased organic matter (OM) intake. No effect of level of OM intake was obtained for the hepatic artery blood flow and oxygen consumption by liver. As a consequence, the level of OM intake only tended to directly affect hepatic blood flow and oxygen consumption by total ST. Oxygen consumption was linearly and positively related to blood flow across PDV, liver and total ST. The heat production by PDV and total ST, as proportion of metabolizable energy (ME) intake, decreased curvilinearly at increased ME intake. In conclusion, the oxygen consumption by PDV, but not by liver, was directly related to the level of forage intake by sheep. Moreover, when ingested at levels below maintenance, most of ME was spent as heat produced by ST.     

The effects of experimentally induced fever on the estimated blood flow to and oxygen utilization by the liver and the viscera drained by the portal vein in sheep

Intrajugular injection of a purified E. coli lipopolysaccharide induced a biphasic fever in sheep after a latent period of 12 to 20 min. The changes in the blood flow from the liver and from the viscera drained by the portal vein were: (a) in the latent period, decreases in total hepatic blood flow (THF) due to decreased portal venous blood flow (PVF); (b) during the first febrile phase, increases in THF due to increased hepatic arterial blood flow and, (c) in the second febrile phase, increases in THF due to decreased PVF. Although there were large variations in the oxygen supply to the viscera drained by the portal vein and to the liver, there were relatively small or no changes in their oxygen consumption.     

Splanchnic metabolism of nutrients and hormones in steers fed alfalfa under conditions of increased absorption of ammonia and L-arginine supply across the portal-drained viscera

Effects of increased ammonia and/or arginine absorption on net splanchnic (portal-drained viscera [PDV] plus liver) metabolism of nonnitrogenous nutrients and hormones in cattle were examined. Six Hereford x Angus steers (501 +/- 1 kg BW) prepared with vascular catheters for measurements of net flux across the splanchnic bed were fed a 75% alfalfa:25% (as-fed basis) corn and soybean meal diet (0.523 MJ of ME/[kg BW(0.75).d]) every 2 h without (27.0 g of N/kg of DM) and with 20 g of urea/kg of DM (35.7 g of N/kg of DM) in a split-plot design. Net flux measurements were made immediately before and after a 72-h mesenteric vein infusion of L-arginine (15 mmol/h). There were no treatment effects on PDV or hepatic O2 consumption. Dietary urea had no effect on splanchnic metabolism of glucose or L-lactate, but arginine infusion decreased net hepatic removal of L-lactate when urea was fed (P < 0.01). Net PDV appearance of n-butyrate was increased by arginine infusion (P < 0.07), and both dietary urea (P < 0.09) and arginine infusion (P < 0.05) increased net hepatic removal of n-butyrate. Dietary urea also increased total splanchnic acetate output (P < 0.06), tended to increase arterial glucagon concentration (P < 0.11), and decreased arterial ST concentration (P < 0.03). Arginine infusion increased arterial concentration (P < 0.07) and net PDV release (P < 0.10) and tended to increase hepatic removal (P < 0.11) of insulin, as well as arterial concentration (P < 0.01) and total splanchnic output (P < 0.01) of glucagon. Despite changes in splanchnic N metabolism, increased ammonia and arginine absorption had little measurable effect on splanchnic metabolism of glucose and other nonnitrogenous components of splanchnic energy metabolism.     

The effect of feed intake level on splanchnic metabolism in growing beef steers

The effect of feed intake level (.6, 1.0, and 1.6 x maintenance energy and protein requirements, M) on splanchnic (portal-drained viscera [PDV] plus liver) metabolism was evaluated in six multicatheterized beef steers (398 +/- 27 kg), using a double 3 x 3 Latin square design. On the last day of each 21-d experimental period, six hourly blood samples were collected from arterial, portal, and hepatic vessels. Due to catheter patency, PDV fluxes were measured on five steers, and liver and splanchnic fluxes on four steers. Increasing intake elevated (P < .01) splanchnic release of total (T) amino acids (AA), through increases (P < .01) in PDV release of both essential (E) and nonessential (NE) AA, in spite of a tendency (P < .20) for increased liver removal of NEAA. The PDV release of AA N represented 27 and 51% of digested N for 1.0 and 1.6 x M, respectively. At 1.0 and 1.6 x M, the liver removed 34% of total AA released by the PDV. For individual AA, portal flux of most EAA increased (P < .05) with feed intake, and the increase (P < .10) in splanchnic flux was accompanied by increased arterial concentration for all EAA except histidine, lysine, and methionine. This suggests that these might be limiting AA for this diet. On a net basis, most individual NEAA were released by the PDV except glutamate and glutamine, which were removed by the digestive tract. There was a net removal of NEAA by the liver, except for aspartate and especially glutamate, which were released. Ammonia release by the PDV tended (P < .20) to increase with intake and represented 69, 53, and 45% of digested N at .6, 1.0, and 1.6 x M, respectively. Urea removed by the PDV, unaffected by intake, represented 32, 33, and 21% of the digested N. Arterial glucose concentration increased linearly (P < .01) with greater intake, whereas net liver and splanchnic glucose release increased in a quadratic (P < .05) manner. Net PDV glucose release represented 26% of net glucose hepatic release at 1.6 x M. Intake elevated (P < .10) both insulin and glucagon arterial concentrations, resulting from a larger increment of portal release (P < .01) than hepatic removal (P < .05). Intake-based variations in IGF-I and NEFA arterial concentrations (P < .05) were not related to changes in splanchnic metabolism. These results clearly show the crucial role of the splanchnic tissues in regulating the profile and quantity of AA and concentrations of glucose and pancreatic hormones reaching peripheral tissues.