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Maternal l-glutamine supplementation prevents prenatal alcohol exposure-induced fetal growth restriction in an ovine model

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Abstract

Prenatal alcohol exposure is known to cause fetal growth restriction and disturbances in amino acid bioavailability. Alterations in these parameters can persist into adulthood and low birth weight can lead to altered fetal programming. Glutamine has been associated with the synthesis of other amino acids, an increase in protein synthesis and it is used clinically as a nutrient supplement for low birth weight infants. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of repeated maternal alcohol exposure and l-glutamine supplementation on fetal growth and amino acid bioavailability during the third trimester-equivalent period in an ovine model. Pregnant sheep were randomly assigned to four groups, saline control, alcohol (1.75–2.5 g/kg), glutamine (100 mg/kg, three times daily) or alcohol + glutamine. In this study, a weekend binge drinking model was followed where treatment was done 3 days per week in succession from gestational day (GD) 109–132 (normal term ~147). Maternal alcohol exposure significantly reduced fetal body weight, height, length, thoracic girth and brain weight, and resulted in decreased amino acid bioavailability in fetal plasma and placental fluids. Maternal glutamine supplementation successfully mitigated alcohol-induced fetal growth restriction and improved the bioavailability of glutamine and glutamine-related amino acids such as glycine, arginine, and asparagine in the fetal compartment. All together, these findings show that l-glutamine supplementation enhances amino acid availability in the fetus and prevents alcohol-induced fetal growth restriction.

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Abbreviations

FAS:

Fetal alcohol syndrome

FASD:

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

GD:

Gestational day

IUGR:

Intra uterine growth restriction

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the important role of the late Dr. Timothy Cudd in starting this study and making significant contributions. We would like to thank Emilie Lunde, Brittney Kramer, Colt Sharpton and Sudath Dahanayaka for their assistance in this study. This research was supported by NIAAA grant AA010940 and AA18166-2 (SW).

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Michael E. DeBakey Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-4466, USA

    Onkar B. Sawant & Shannon E. Washburn

  2. Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Guoyao Wu

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  1. Onkar B. Sawant
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  2. Guoyao Wu
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  3. Shannon E. Washburn
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Correspondence to Shannon E. Washburn.

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Sawant, O.B., Wu, G. & Washburn, S.E. Maternal l-glutamine supplementation prevents prenatal alcohol exposure-induced fetal growth restriction in an ovine model. Amino Acids 47, 1183–1192 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-015-1945-x

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