Effects of supplemental citrulline on thermal and intestinal morphology parameters during heat stress and feed restriction in growing pigs.

Study objectives were to characterize the effects of citrulline (CIT) on physiological and intestinal morphology metrics during heat stress (HS) and feed restriction. Forty crossbred gilts (30 ± 2 kg body weight [BW]) were assigned to one of five treatments: (1) thermoneutral (TN) fed ad libitum (AL) with control (CON) supplement (TNAL; n = 8), (2) TN pair-fed (PF) with CON (PF-CON; n = 8), (3) TN PF with CIT (PF-CIT; n = 8), (4) HS AL with CON (HS-CON; n = 8), and (5) HS AL with CIT (HS-CIT; n = 8). During the period (P) 1 (7 d), pigs were in TN conditions (23.6 °C) and fed AL their respective supplemental treatments. During P2 (2.5 d), HS-CON and HS-CIT pigs were fed AL and exposed to cyclical HS (33.6 to 38.3 °C), while TNAL, PF-CON, and PF-CIT remained in TN and were fed either AL or PF to their HS counterparts. Citrulline (0.13 g/kg BW) was orally administered twice daily during P1 and P2. HS increased rectal temperature (Tr), skin temperature (Ts), and respiration rate (RR) relative to TN pigs (0.8 °C, 4.7 °C, and 47 breaths/min, respectively; P < 0.01). However, HS-CIT had decreased RR (7 breaths/min, P = 0.04) and a tendency for decreased Tr (0.1 °C, P = 0.07) relative to HS-CON pigs. During P2, HS pigs had decreased feed intake (22%; P < 0.01) and a tendency for decreased average daily gain (P = 0.08) relative to TNAL pigs, and by experimental design, PF pigs followed this same pattern. Circulating lipopolysaccharide-binding protein tended to be decreased (29%; P = 0.08) in PF relative to TNAL pigs and was increased (41%; P = 0.03) in HS compared to PF pigs. Jejunum villus height was decreased in PF relative to TNAL pigs (15%; P = 0.03); however, CIT supplementation improved this metric during feed restriction (16%; P = 0.10). Jejunum mucosal surface area decreased in PF (16%; P = 0.02) and tended to decrease in HS (11%; P = 0.10) compared to TNAL pigs. Ileum villus height and mucosal surface area decreased in HS compared to TNAL pigs (10 and 14%, respectively; P ≤ 0.04), but both parameters were rescued by CIT supplementation (P ≤ 0.08). Intestinal myeloperoxidase and goblet cell area remained similar among treatments and intestinal segments (P > 0.24). In summary, CIT supplementation slightly improved RR and Tr during HS. Feed restriction and HS differentially affected jejunum and ileum morphology and while CIT ameliorated some of these effects, the benefit appeared dependent on intestinal section and stressor type.