The impact of diet and arginine supplementation on pancreatic mass, digestive enzyme activity, and insulin-containing cell cluster morphology during the estrous cycle in sheep

To determine the effect of feed intake and arginine treatment during different stages of the estrous cycle on pancreatic mass, digestive enzyme activity, and histological measurements, ewes (n = 120) were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 dietary groups; control (CON; 2.14-Mcal metabolizable energy/kg), underfed (UF; 0.6 × CON), or overfed (OF; 2 × CON) over 2 yr. Estrus was synchronized using a controlled internal drug release device for 14 d. At controlled internal drug release withdrawal, ewes from each dietary group were assigned to 1 of 2 treatments; Arg (L-Arg HCl, 155-μmol/kg BW) or Sal (approximately 10 -mL saline).

Source: Domestic Animal Endocrinology - October 20, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: F.E. Keomanivong, A.T. Grazul-Bilska, D.A. Redmer, C.S. Bass, S.L. Kaminski, P.P. Borowicz, J.D. Kirsch, K.C. Swanson Source Type: research