Dietary arginine: metabolic, environmental, immunological and physiological interrelationships

Arginine is an essential amino acid for chickens due to the absence of a functional urea cycle in birds. Arginine plays critical roles in metabolic pathways associated with growth and immune-competence. Likewise, as a precursor of nitric oxide synthesis, arginine is important as the key vasodilator...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:World's poultry science journal 2010-12, Vol.66 (4), p.751-766
Main Authors: KHAJALI, F., WIDEMAN, R.F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Altitude
Amino acids
animal growth
animal nutrition
antagonists
arginine
ascites
biochemical pathways
broiler chickens
broiler feeding
Chickens
Diet
disease resistance
Environmental conditions
essential amino acids
Hypertension
immunity
literature reviews
metabolism
Nitric oxide
nutrient requirements
nutrient-nutrient interactions
nutritional adequacy
optimal nutrition
Polyamines
Poultry
Protein synthesis
pulmonary hypertension
reference standards
requirements
Sabbatical leave
Urea
vasodilation
Wound healing
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Summary:Arginine is an essential amino acid for chickens due to the absence of a functional urea cycle in birds. Arginine plays critical roles in metabolic pathways associated with growth and immune-competence. Likewise, as a precursor of nitric oxide synthesis, arginine is important as the key vasodilator that opposes the onset of pulmonary hypertension in broiler (meat-type) chickens. Dietary arginine levels in commercial broiler diets meet NRC recommendations. However, this review shows that NRC recommendations may not be adequate to support maximal growth, support arginine-depleting immune responses, and prevent the onset of pulmonary hypertension in broilers reared under rigorous environmental conditions. Dietary composition is highly important and broiler performance may suffer when insufficient levels of arginine are included in the diet. Fortification of broiler diets with supplemental arginine may be necessary under such circumstances.
ISSN:0043-9339
1743-4777
DOI:10.1017/S0043933910000711