scholarly journals Effect of maternal body condition on placental and fetal growth and the insulin-like growth factor axis in Dorset ewes

Reproduction ◽  
2003 ◽  
pp. 717-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC Osgerby ◽  
TS Gadd ◽  
DC Wathes
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽  
Maternal Body ◽  
Crown Rump Length ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Moderate Condition ◽  
Igfbp 3

This study investigated the effects of maternal body condition on fetal growth. Fetal and placental parameters from Dorset ewes of body condition score 2.0 (lean, n = 5), 3.5 (moderate, n = 7) and 5.0 (fat, n = 4) at mating were studied on day 65 of gestation. The fetal weight and fetal weight:crown-rump length ratio were greater in fat ewes than in ewes of moderate condition. The raised total and mean placentome weight in fat ewes compared with ewes of moderate condition may have contributed to their increased fetal growth. However, the fetal crown-rump length was not affected. With in situ hybridization, insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) mRNA and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2), -3 and -6 were all detected in the placentome capsule; IGF-II mRNA was also found in the mesoderm of the fetal villi and IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-6 were present in the caruncular stroma of the maternal villi. Ewes of moderate condition, which had the smallest placentae, had the greatest placental expression of IGF-II, IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3. In the intercotyledonary endometrium, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-5 and uterine milk protein (UTMP) mRNA were all expressed in the glandular epithelium. IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 absorbance values were lowest in the lean ewes, whereas UTMP values were highest. Maternal insulin concentrations were greater in fat ewes, whereas plasma glucose and IGF-I concentrations in the fetal compartment were lowest in fat ewes. Therefore, in obese ewes, fetal and placental growth is increased in mid-gestation in association with higher maternal insulin concentrations and lower expression of IGFBPs in the maternal placentomes. Placental and fetal development in lean ewes may be promoted by reduced IGFBP expression in the placentomes and enhanced UTMP production by the endometrial glands. The ewes of moderate condition had the smallest fetuses and placentae coupled with the highest placental expression of IGF-II and IGFBPs.

scholarly journals Peri-Conceptional undernutrition in twin bearing ewes: Effect on early fetal growth and birth weight

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 419
Author(s):  
Ricardo Vicente-Pérez ◽  
Yolanda Osorio-Marín ◽  
María De los Angeles López-Baca ◽  
Leonel Avendaño-Reyes ◽  
Abelardo Correa-Calderón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Maternal Body ◽  
Crown Rump Length ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Nutritional Restriction ◽  
Mating Time

A total of 48 Katahdin x Pelibuey multiparous ewes were used to evaluate the e ect of nutritional restriction (40 %) before (30 d, RT), after (50 d, TR) or both periods (80 d, RR) compared with a control group on maternal body status, early fetal growth and lamb birth weights. Only twin bearing ewes were selected at d 50 of pregnancy for fetal measurements by ultrasonography and record of birth weight. Compared with control ewes, lower (p < 0.05) weight and body condition score had RT and RR ewes at mating time, likewise, TR and RR ewes at d 50 post-conception. There were mainly di erences between fetuses from control and RT ewes, being higher (p < 0.05) the vesicular, abdominal and fetal area, as well as crown-rump length and birth weight for RT fetuses. In conclusion, preconception undernutrition positively altered the early fetal growth and lamb birth weights in hair ewes pregnant with twins. 

110 BARLEY SUPPLEMENTATION AT MID-GESTATION IN BROODMARES DOES NOT AFFECT FETAL DEVELOPMENT AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY MINIMAL PLACENTAL ADAPTATIONS

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Robles ◽  
P. Peugnet ◽  
C. Dubois ◽  
L. Wimel ◽  
A. Tarrade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Fetal Development ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Nonesterified Fatty Acid ◽  
Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽  
Condition Score

Modifications of maternal environment could alter fetal growth and development through the placenta and thus health in adulthood. The developmental origins of health and disease suggest that maternal nutrition during pregnancy may affect offspring development and subsequent energy metabolism. To understand the effect of common feeding practices during gestation, 24 saddlebred mares were allocated to 1 of 2 groups: group B was supplemented twice a day with barley (B) and group F was fed only with fodder (F) between month 7 of gestation and foaling. B mares maintained an optimal body condition score through gestation, with an increase in glycaemia and insulinemia after each meal and insulin resistance in month 9 of gestation. F mares lost condition as assessed by body condition score in the last part of gestation, leading to a moderate undernutrition and a transitional increase in nonesterified fatty acid plasma concentrations. Diets had no effect on feto-placental biometry or on placental structure. In contrast, an increase in microcotyledonary vessel volume was observed in F placentas, indicating placental adaptation, possibly to increase fetomaternal exchanges. There was no overall difference in the expression of genes involved in vascularization, nutrient transfer, growth, and development between placentas from B and F mares. Nevertheless, as seen in other species, sex-specific effects of maternal nutrition were observed in placentas from female foals, with differences in the expression of endogline, kinase insert domain receptor, insulin-like growth factor 2 and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor genes. This study demonstrates that breeding practices such as supplementation in concentrate at mid-gestation do not seem to affect fetal development. More work is ongoing to evaluate postnatal health.

scholarly journals 273.Insulin-like growth factor treatment of pregnant guinea pigs during early pregnancy promotes fetal growth

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 273
Author(s):  
A. N. Sferruzzi-Perri ◽  
J. A. Owens ◽  
J. S. Robinson ◽  
C. T. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Placental Weight ◽  
Fetal Weight ◽  
Abdominal Circumference ◽  
Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽  
Crown Rump Length ◽  
Igf I

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II is an important regulator of growth in many tissues and is abundantly expressed in the placenta during pregnancy. Gene ablation studies performed in mice have shown that IGF-II deficiency results in both impaired fetal and placental growth, whereas deficiency in IGF-I reduces fetal growth only. Conversely, maternal IGF supplementation in early pregnancy in the guinea pig increases placental and fetal size by mid pregnancy. This study aimed to determine whether these anabolic effects persist into late pregnancy after cessation of treatment. On Day 20 of pregnancy, mothers were anaesthetised and a mini osmotic pump was implanted subcutaneously, to deliver 1mg/kg/day IGF-I (n = 7), IGF-II (n = 9) or vehicle (n = 7) for 17 days. Guinea pigs were killed on Day 62 of pregnancy (term ~67 days). Fetal and placental weights, and maternal and fetal body composition, were measured. Total litter size was unaffected by IGF treatment; however, IGF-II increased the number of viable fetuses by 26% (P = 0.01). After adjusting for the number of viable pups per litter, maternal IGF treatment increased fetal growth by increasing abdominal circumference, crown-rump length and fetal weight (fetal weight: IGF-I 79+/–2.5 g; IGF-II 78+/–2.6 g; vs vehicle 68+/–2.5 g, P = 0.02). IGF treatment did not alter absolute or relative fetal organ weights. IGF-I reduced placental weight by 9% and IGF-II increased it by 9%, but not significantly. IGF-I increased the fetal weight�:�placental weight ratio (19+/–0.9 vs 15+/–0.9, respectively P = 0.043). IGF treatment did not affect maternal weight gain during pregnancy nor net carcass weight; however, IGF-I reduced maternal lung and adipose tissue weights. In conclusion, maternal IGF-II treatment during early pregnancy improved fetal growth into late gestation, possibly by modulating placental efficiency. As poor placental development is implicated in fetal growth restriction, increasing maternal IGF abundance in early to mid pregnancy may be a potential therapeutic approach to placental insufficiency.

Pre-weaning growth of red deer calves is not determined by ability of hinds to produce milk

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 507
Author(s):  
G. K. Barrell ◽  
M. Wellby ◽  
M. J. Ridgway ◽  
G. W. Asher ◽  
J. A. Archer
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Plasma Insulin ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
The Other ◽  
Calf Growth ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Bovine Somatotrophin

Three experiments were carried out to determine whether growth of suckling red deer calves is determined by the potential of their mothers to produce milk. In the first experiment red deer hinds (n = 10, calves 6 weeks old) were treated either with bovine somatotrophin (bST, 54 mg s.c. injected every 2 weeks for 8 weeks then 108 mg every 2 weeks for a further 8 weeks) or saline. There was no effect of bST treatment on calf or hind liveweight, calf liveweight gain or body condition score of hinds. The second experiment used red and red-wapiti crossbred deer calves (n = 8–11) suckled by red deer dams that had been treated with bST or had received excipient only for 12 weeks from when the calves were 5 weeks old. Calf liveweight was affected by genotype (wapiti-red crossbreds were heavier than their red counterparts) but there was no effect of bST treatment of the hinds on calf growth in either of the genotypes. Although bST treatment of the suckled hinds elevated their plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 concentration it had no effect on milk yield. A third experiment ruled out the possibility that bST ingested by calves in milk from treated hinds would have had any influence on growth of calves in the other experiments. From these results it is concluded that the inherent demand from suckling calves, rather than the ability of adequately nourished hinds to produce milk, determines growth rate of red deer calves from birth to weaning.

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