Exogenous nucleotides contribute to the regulation of hepatic glycolipid metabolism in young animals

Nucleotides involve in regulating cellular energy and glycolipid metabolism.The objective was to figure out the roles of exogenous nucleotides in glycolipid metabolism using 3-day-old piglets as a model. Ninety-six piglets were randomly assigned to two groups of artificial milk and artificial milk with 0.035 % nucleotides. The results showed that nucleotides supplementation increased Glu, BUN and SFA contents, and reduced C14:0 and C20:4n6 profiles in piglets serum. Nucleotides supplementation enhanced fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, pyruvate carboxylase and pyruvate kinase activities and promoted gene expression of solute carrier family 28 member 3, solute carrier family 29 member 3, citratesynthase, sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor and fatty acid binding protein, and suppressed gene expression of glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit, fructose-bisphosphatase, glycogen synthase, adipose triglyceride lipase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase in piglets' liver. Exogenous nucleotides regulate energy homeostasis of piglets by enhancing hepatic enzymes activities related to glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, and regulating key genes involved in glycolipid metabolism. • Study used 3-day-old piglets as a model to investigate food additives for infants. • Nucleotides increased serum glucose by regulating gluconeogenesis and the TCA cycle. • Nucleotides regulated lipid metabolism by promoting lipolysis key genes expression. • Exogenous nucleotides can be used as nutrients to intervene in energy metabolism.