The Protective Role of Alpha-Ketoglutaric Acid on the Growth and Bone Development of Experimentally Induced Perinatal Growth-Retarded Piglets

Abstract

The effect of alpha-ketoglutaric acid (AKG) supplementation to experimentally-induced, perinatal growth-retarded piglets was examined. Sows were treated with a synthetic glucocorticoid (Gc) during the last 25 days of pregnancy, and after the birth, piglets were randomly divided into three groups depending on the treatment. The Gc/Gc + AKG and Gc/AKG groups born by Gc-treated sows after the birth were treated with Gc or Gc + AKG for 35 days. Significantly lower serum growth hormone, IGF-I, osteocalcin, leptin, and cortisol concentrations were observed in the Gc/Gc + AKG group, while the bone alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly higher. Serum insulin concentration was higher in the control group. Serum alanine, lysine, histidine, and tryptophan concentrations were higher in the Gc/Gc + AKG and Gc/AKG groups. The perinatal action of Gc significantly affects histomorphometry of articular cartilage and trabecular bone and bone mechanics. The results clearly showed that dietary AKG had positive effects with regards to the profile of free amino acids. Taking into account the function of AKG as an energy donor and stimulator of collagen synthesis, it can be concluded that the anabolic role of AKG may be the main mechanism responsible for its protective effect against the GC-induced perinatal intensified catabolic state.

Keywords: bone; glucocorticoid; perinatal growth-retardation; pigs; α-ketoglutaric acid.

Figure 1

Scheme showing the experimental design. From the 90th day of gestation to parturition dexamethasone was administered to n = 4 sows belonging to Gc group at the dose 0.08 mg /kg b.w. every second day. After delivery, 24 newborns of Gc-treated sows were randomly assigned to one of the two groups: the Gc/Gc + AKG group receiving dexamethasone (1 mg/kg b.w./24 h i.m) and supplemented with alpha-ketoglutaric acid (AKG) (0.4 g/kg b.w./24 h per os) or the Gc/AKG group supplemented with AKG (0.4 g/kg b.w./24 h per os) only, compromising of 6 males and 6 females each. Twelve piglets delivered by untreated control sows (n = 3) belonged to the control group. The experiment lasted until the 35th day of piglets’ neonatal life.