| Summary: | Both prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) administration and dietary arachidonic acid (AA), the precursor to endogenous PGE2 synthesis, have been independently shown to elevate bone mass. The research objective is to compare the effects of dietary AA versus PGE2 on the fatty acid composition of plasma and liver tissue, bone cell metabolism, ex vivo PGE2 release and bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) of the new born piglet. Twenty-eight five-day old piglets from seven litters were randomized to one of four treatments (n = 7 per treatment) for fifteen days: Fatty acid supplemented formula (FA; 0.8% of total fatty acids as AA and 0.1% of total fatty acids as DHA) plus PGE2 injections (0.1 mg/kg/day), FA plus saline injections, standard formula (STD; n-6:n-3 of 8:1) plus PGE2 injections or STD plus saline injections. After fifteen days, plasma and liver tissue were analyzed for fatty acids via gas chromatography. Biochemical bone markers, plasma osteocalcin, urinary calcium and cross-linked N-telopeptide of type Icollagen (NTX) were measured and ex vivo PGE2 release in bone organ culture was determined. Whole body, femur and total lumbar 1-4 BMC and BMD were measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
|
|---|
