Effects of Mn-deficit feeding to ewes on certain amino acids and sugars in cartilage of their newborn lambs.

The distribution of amino acid, amino sugar, and uronic acid in the epiphyseal cartilage of newborn lambs were examined to determine the influence of manganese (Mn) deficiency. Throughout the gestational period, one group (group I) of eight pregnant ewes was given a ration containing 60 mg of Mn/kg of feed and a second group (group II) of eight ewes was given a ration containing 5 mg of Mn/kg of feed. The neonatal lambs were killed, and the epiphyseal plates from various bones in the thoracic limb were removed and analyzed for glucosamine, galactosamine, uronic acid, and 17 amino acids. Concentrations of uronic acid and of the sulphur amino acids (methionine not significant, P greater than 0.05) were larger in the cartilage from the lambs born of group I ewes (60 mg of Mn/kg of ration) than in the cartilage from those of the Group II ewes (Mn deficiency). A tendency for higher hexosamine values was observed in the organic matrix of the group I lambs than of the group II lambs. However, concentrations of serine, histidine, and lysine were higher in the cartilage from group II lambs (Mn deficiency). Thus, the role of Mn in the prevention of joint abnormalities may be its influence on the mucopolysaccharide and protein composition of the epiphyseal plate.