QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ching, S. Articles by Dabrowski, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ching, S. Articles by Dabrowski, K.

---

Articles

Ascorbic Acid Synthesis in Fetal and Neonatal Pigs and in Pregnant and Postpartum Sows^{1 ,2}

San Ching^*, Donald C. Mahan^*3, Joseph S. Ottobre^* and Konrad Dabrowski

^* Department of Animal Sciences, School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University and The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Columbus, OH 43210-1094

³To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mahan.3{at}osu.edu.

The ontogeny of ascorbic acid synthesis and its concentration in fetal pigs from mid- to late gestation, and the effect of birth order and premature or normal delivery ages were evaluated. In Experiment 1, fetal pigs were collected from three sows at 60, 80, 100, 107 and 111 d of development. Liver L-gulono--lactone oxidase (GLO) activity and ascorbic acid concentration were measured. High liver GLO activity in fetal liver occurred at 60 d but declined as pregnancy advanced (P < 0.01), whereas ascorbic acid concentration increased (P < 0.01). Experiment 2 evaluated ascorbic acid synthesis and concentration in neonates born early (1st and 2nd) or late (7th and 8th) in the birthing sequence, or when born 2 d prematurely vs. the normal delivery age. Pigs born early in the birthing sequence (P < 0.01) and those born at the natural delivery age (P < 0.05) had higher liver ascorbic acid concentrations, but liver GLO activity did not differ among groups. Sows were killed at each period; liver GLO activity was constant during gestation but increased postpartum (P < 0.01). Liver ascorbic acid concentration was constant during gestation, except for a decline during late gestation, and increased postpartum (P < 0.05). These results suggest that more ascorbic acid was transferred from the dam to the fetuses as pregnancy advanced, possibly suppressing fetal GLO activity. Thus, fetal liver GLO activity was the primary source of ascorbic acid during early fetal development, but more fetal ascorbic acid was transferred from the dam during later pregnancy.

KEY WORDS: • L-gulonolactone oxidase • ascorbic acid • gestation • pigs

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Lauridsen and S. K. Jensen Influence of supplementation of all-rac-{alpha}-tocopheryl acetate preweaning and vitamin C postweaning on {alpha}-tocopherol and immune responses of piglets J Anim Sci, June 1, 2005; 83(6): 1274 - 1286. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Ching, D. C. Mahan, and K. Dabrowski Liver L-Gulonolactone Oxidase Activity and Tissue Ascorbic Acid Concentrations in Nursing Pigs and the Effect of Various Weaning Ages J. Nutr., July 1, 2001; 131(7): 2002 - 2006. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]