Effect of dietary arginine on organ weight and feed intake in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

Abstract

This study showed the effects of different dietary arginine levels on organ weight and feed intake in growing Japanese quail. Quails were provided with diets containing low, control, or high arginine for a fourteen-day experimental period. Dietary arginine levels had no significant effect on relative liver weight in both sexes, whereas low arginine intake was associated with increased relative brain weight. These findings suggest tissue-specific responses, with the liver exhibiting metabolic resilience and the brain being preferentially maintained under nutrient limitation. Feed intake was reduced under low dietary arginine during the second week, indicating sensitivity to arginine availability at this developmental stage. Variations in feed intake across studies suggest that arginine’s effects are context-dependent, influenced by physiological status, environmental conditions, and baseline diet composition. Overall, our findings highlight the role of dietary arginine in organ weight and feed intake, reflecting both direct effects on organ development and indirect effects through feed intake regulation.