scholarly journals A Review of Maternal Nutrition during Pregnancy and Impact on the Offspring through Development: Evidence from Animal Models of Over- and Undernutrition

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6926 ◽  
Author(s):  
John F. Odhiambo ◽  
Christopher L. Pankey ◽  
Adel B. Ghnenis ◽  
Stephen P. Ford
Keyword(s):  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
University Of Wyoming ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Obesogenic Diet ◽  
And Control

Similarities in offspring phenotype due to maternal under- or over-nutrition during gestation have been observed in studies conducted at University of Wyoming. In these studies, ewes were either nutrient-restricted (NR) from early to mid-gestation, or fed an obesogenic diet (MO) from preconception through term. Offspring necropsies occurred at mid-gestation, late-gestation, and after parturition. At mid gestation, body weights of NR fetuses were ~30% lighter than controls, whereas MO fetuses were ~30% heavier than those of controls. At birth, lambs born to NR, MO, and control ewes exhibited similar weights. This was a consequence of accelerated fetal growth rates in NR ewes, and reduced fetal growth rates in MO ewes in late gestation, when compared to their respective controls. These fetal growth patterns resulted in remarkably similar effects of increased susceptibility to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and glucose intolerance in offspring programmed mostly during fetal stages of development. These data provide evidence that maternal under- and over-nutrition similarly induce the development of the same cadre of physical and metabolic problems in postnatal life.

Placental restriction of fetal growth decreases IGF1 and leptin mRNA expression in the perirenal adipose tissue of late gestation fetal sheep

2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (5) ◽  
pp. R1413-R1419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime A. Duffield ◽  
Tony Vuocolo ◽  
Ross Tellam ◽  
Bernard S. Yuen ◽  
Beverly S. Muhlhausler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Visceral Adipose Tissue ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Fetal Sheep ◽  
Pat Gene ◽  
Visceral Adipose ◽  
And Control

Placental restriction (PR) of fetal growth results in a low birth weight and an increased visceral fat mass in postnatal life. We investigated whether PR alters expression of genes that regulate adipogenesis [IGF1, IGF1 receptor (IGF1R), IGF2, IGF2R, proliferator-activated receptor-γ, retinoid-X-receptor-α], adipocyte metabolism (lipoprotein lipase, G3PDH, GAPDH) and adipokine signaling (leptin, adiponectin) in visceral adipose tissue before birth. PR was induced by removal of the majority of endometrial caruncles in nonpregnant ewes before mating. Fetal blood samples were collected from 116 days gestation, and perirenal visceral adipose tissue (PAT) was collected from PR and control fetuses at 145 days. PAT gene expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. PR fetuses had a lower weight (PR 2.90 ± 0.32 kg; control, 5.12 ± 0.24 kg; P < 0.0001), mean gestational arterial Po2 ( P < 0.0001), plasma glucose ( P < 0.01), and insulin concentrations ( P < 0.02), than controls. The expression of IGF1 mRNA in PAT was lower in the PR fetuses (PR, 0.332 ± 0.063; control, 0.741 ± 0.083; P < 0.01). Leptin mRNA expression in PAT was also lower in PR fetuses (PR, 0.077 ± 0.009; control, 0.115 ± 0.013; P < 0.05), although there was no difference in the expression of other adipokine or adipogenic genes in PAT between PR and control fetuses. Thus, restriction of placental and hence, fetal substrate supply results in decreased IGF1 and leptin expression in fetal visceral adipose tissue, which may alter the functional development of the perirenal fat depot and contribute to altered leptin signaling in the growth-restricted newborn and the subsequent emergence of an increased visceral adiposity.

PRE-MATERNAL ISOLATION EFFECTS ON BEHAVIOUR AND ENDOCRINE FUNCTION OF OFFSPRING

1969 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Sackler ◽  
A. S. Weltman ◽  
R. Schwartz ◽  
P. Steinglass
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
The Body ◽  
Endocrine Function ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Isolation Stress ◽  
Developmental Growth ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACT This report was designed to determine combined effects of maternal endocrine imbalances and abnormal behaviour due to prolonged isolation stress of female mice on the behaviour, developmental growth rate and endocrine function of their offspring. Sixty female albino mice averaging 19 g were divided equally into isolated and control groups. The isolated females were housed singly; control females were maintained in groups of 2 mice per cage. After observation of behavioural and physiological effects characteristic of isolation stress in the test mice, all isolated and control mice were mated after a 6½ month experimental, isolation period. No differences were observed in fertility and fecundity of the two groups of mothers. Analyses of developmental growth rates of the litters of the isolated versus control mothers showed significantly lower body weights in the test offspring at 3 and 4 weeks of age. The body weights of the female offspring remained significantly lower from the 4th to 11th weeks. The effects on the body weights of the male offspring declined and were no longer statistically significant at the 5th to 11 weeks. Locomotor activity at 4½ and 8 weeks of age was markedly or significantly higher in the male and female mice from isolated mothers. Tail-blood samples taken prior to autopsy at 5 and 11 weeks of age revealed significant decreases in the total leukocyte and eosinophil counts of both sexes. At the two ages, the absolute and relative spleen and thymus weights of the male and female offspring were markedly and/or significantly lower than the values observed in counterpart young from control females. Significant decreases were also observed in the absolute gonadal organ weights of both sexes at 11 weeks of age. The various data indicated inhibited growth rates, heightened locomotor activity and evasiveness, as well as evidence of increased adrenocortical function in the offspring from test mothers. The gonadal weight decreases suggested retarded gonadal development. Further studies using split-litter techniques are required to differentiate the effects of prenatal endocrine imbalances versus postnatal maternal influence (i. e., nursing care) on the offspring.

scholarly journals Growth and body weight of free-range reindeer in western Alaska

Rangifer ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg L. Finstad ◽  
Alexander K. Prichard
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Total Body Weight ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Reproductive Females ◽  
Average Body

Total body weight of 9749 reindeer calves and 4798 adult reindeer were measured from 1984 to 1999 on the Seward Peninsula, western Alaska, USA. Growth rates of male and female calves, and annual growth patterns of adults were determined. Male calves grew faster than female calves. Reproductive females were lighter than non-reproductive females during summer but there was no effect of reproduction on average body weights the following winter. Adult males age 3-5 were heavier during summer than winter. Castrated males weighed the same as uncastrated males in summer, but were significantly heavier in winter, and did not display the large annual fluctuations in weight typical of reproductive males and females. Growth rates were higher and body weights greater in this herd than many other cir-cumpolar reindeer populations. We suggest these kinds of physiological indices should be used to monitor the possible effects of spatial and temporal variation in population density and to evaluate changes in herding practices.

Fetal and neonatal adipose maturation: a primary site of cytokine and cytokine-receptor action

2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Stephenson ◽  
H. Budge ◽  
A. Mostyn ◽  
S. Pearce ◽  
R. Webb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Uncoupling Protein ◽  
Prolactin Receptor ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Metabolic Adaptation ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Brown Adipose

During late gestation, the maturation of fetal adipose tissue is geared towards the synthesis of high levels of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), which is unique to brown adipose tissue. At birth, rapid activation of UCP1 ensures a large increase in heat production. These adaptations are nutritionally sensitive, and may be mediated in part by rapid changes in prolactin and leptin secretion after birth. Restriction of maternal nutrition reduces adipose tissue deposition, with no effect on UCP1. Increased maternal food intake results in increases in levels of UCP1 and the short form of the prolactin receptor, but in a decrease in adipose tissue content per kg of fetus. The ontogeny of the long and short forms of the prolactin receptor follows that of UCP1, to peak at birth. Then, during postnatal life, UCP1 disappears in parallel with the loss of prolactin receptors. Treatment of neonatal lambs with prolactin increases body temperature and the thermogenic potential of brown adipose tissue. In contrast, acute leptin treatment results in maintenance of colonic temperature, but chronic leptin treatment accelerates UCP1 loss. Increasing our understanding of the interaction between prolactin and leptin during perinatal development may enable the establishment of strategies aimed at maximizing adipose tissue development in order to promote metabolic adaptation to the extra-uterine environment.

Effects of maternal nutrition during pregnancy on fetal growth and maternal constraint in sheep

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 524 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. C. Jenkinson ◽  
A. K. Earl ◽  
P. R. Kenyon ◽  
H. T. Blair
Keyword(s):  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Second Trimester ◽  
Physical Constraint ◽  
Nutritional Treatment ◽  
Offspring Development ◽  
Fetal Size ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Nutritional Level

This study set out to determine the stage of gestation at which maternal constraint on fetal growth occurs and whether pregnancy nutritional level could alleviate that constraint. One-hundred and thirty-eight Cheviot (C) and 114 Suffolk (S) ewes were split into two groups and bred with either 12 S or 12 C rams to generate four ewe/fetal groups CC (C dam and C sire), CSinC (crossbred fetus in C ewe), CSinS, and SS. At Day 21 of pregnancy (P21), half of the ewes in each of the four groups were randomly allocated to either a maintenance (M) or ad libitum (A) nutritional treatment, under pastoral grazing conditions. At P100, a subgroup of singleton-bearing ewes including ewes from all four groups (n = 55 in total) were euthanised (Study 1). Maternal, placental and fetal weights and sizes were recorded. The remaining ewes were fed to appetite from P140 and were allowed to lamb (n = 114 in total, Study 2) and lamb liveweights were recorded within 12 h of birth and at average days 30 and 100 (L30, L100) of lactation. In both studies, M ewes were lighter (P < 0.05) than A ewes, and CC and CSinC ewes were lighter (P < 0.05) than CSinS and SS ewes. In Study 1, maternal nutritional treatment had no effect (P > 0.05) on fetal bodyweight although fetuses from A ewes had heavier (P < 0.05) livers, spleens and thyroids than fetuses from M ewes. CC and CSinC fetuses were lighter (P < 0.01) than both CSinS and SS fetuses. In Study 2, lambs born to M ewes were lighter (P < 0.05) at birth and at L100 than lambs born to A ewes. CC lambs were lighter (P < 0.01) than CSinC, CSinS and SS lambs at birth. At L30 and L100, CC lambs were lighter (P < 0.05) than CSinC lambs, which, in turn, were lighter (P < 0.05) than both CSinS and SS lambs, which did not differ (P > 0.05). Combined, these studies indicate that maternal nutrition may have little impact on singleton-offspring development until late gestation while, in contrast, dam size affected fetal size by the end of the second trimester. These data suggest that the C ewe constrains the growth of the crossbred fetus well before a ‘physical’ constraint would be expected.

scholarly journals 147 Nutritional advances in fetal and neonatal development: Mineral nutrition

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 121-121
Author(s):  
Allison M Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Mineral Nutrition ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Metabolic Stress ◽  
Developmental Programming ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Trace Minerals ◽  
Neonatal Development

Abstract Mineral nutrition during pregnancy has long been known to impact fetal growth and development. This is evidenced by a multitude of mineral deficiency-related causes for embryonic loss, abortion, stillbirth, or neonatal death, including poor or inappropriate fetal development that can be either reversible or irreversible postnatally. Both macro and trace mineral needs of the dam are known to increase with the fetal growth of advancing gestation due to greater metabolic stress and demand, as well as tissue development and deposition in the fetus. Fetal deposition of many trace minerals is especially important for neonatal use while consuming milk with low mineral concentrations and facing a multitude of immune challenges. In the last 2 decades, many laboratories have focused on “developmental programming,” or the effects of maternal nutrition on fetal and neonatal development and ultimately long-term health and productivity of livestock. Despite this, the role of macro and trace minerals in short-and long-term consequences of developmental programming is still unclear for many minerals and species. Taken together, research in ruminants and swine demonstrate that mineral intake and source during pregnancy can have a large effect on fetal growth and development that lasts into the neonatal and pre-weaning periods. Some studies suggest that supra-nutritional mineral intake may have a positive benefit during gestation or neonatal periods. Moreover, some data suggest that mineral requirements may be greater than currently thought to accommodate the rapid fetal growth and preparation for lactation that occurs during late gestation. Continued research is necessary to determine mineral requirements of livestock during pregnancy, especially when considering their long-reaching subsequent effects on offspring. Additionally, increased understanding of perinatal transfer of trace minerals can aid in our management of pregnant dams and their offspring.

scholarly journals Maternal nutrition and reproduction of daughters in wild house mice (Mus musculus)

Reproduction ◽  
2001 ◽  
pp. 437-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Meikle ◽  
M Westberg
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Food Deprivation ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
House Mice ◽  
Organizational Effects ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Wild House Mice ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Food deprivation after weaning often has greater effects on the reproductive success of females than of males. However, if animals are deprived prenatally (that is, through food deprivation of the mother during gestation), the reproductive success of males may be more adversely affected than that of females because of a disruption in the organizational effects of testosterone in neonatal male mice. The hypotheses that daughters of female mice deprived of food during gestation would have lower reproductive success than control daughters, but that the impact of maternal food deprivation would be lower for daughters than it would be for sons, was tested. There was no difference in the proportion of daughters of food-deprived and control mothers that produced one or two litters. However, the mean number of pups weaned in the second litters by daughters of control females (5.9 +/- 0.57 SEM) was greater than the number of pups weaned by daughters of food-deprived females (4.5 +/- 0.65 SEM). There were no differences in the mean birth or weaning body weights of offspring. Therefore, maternal food deprivation in mice may have a small but significant effect on the reproductive success of daughters. However, studies of sons born to females that were subjected to the same food deprivation protocol indicate that maternal food deprivation may have a much greater effect on the reproduction of sons than on that of daughters.

scholarly journals The effect of maternal undernutrition on ovine fetal growth

2002 ◽  
Vol 173 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC Osgerby ◽  
DC Wathes ◽  
D Howard ◽  
TS Gadd
Keyword(s):  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Bone Growth ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Fetal Brain ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Semitendinosus Muscle ◽  
Fetal Plasma ◽  
Maternal Undernutrition ◽  
Igf I

Modifications in maternal nutrition during pregnancy can significantly disrupt fetal growth and subsequent post-natal health and survival. This study investigated the effects of undernutrition on fetal growth and the potential mechanisms involved. Tissue from pregnant ewes (n=27) was investigated on days 45, 90 and 135 of gestation (term = approximately 150 days). The thoracic girth (P<0.05) was greater in fetuses from nutrient restricted ewes on day 45 and there was also a trend towards an increased gut weight (P<0.08). By day 90, the fetal brain and thymus weight were lighter in underfed than in well-fed animals whilst the weight of the fetal ovaries was heavier (P<0.05). On day 135 the fetal heart, pancreas, thymus, gut and kidney weights were lighter in undernourished ewes (P<0.05). When expressed as a percentage of fetal body weight, significance was retained in the heart, pancreas and thymus (P<0.05). Bone growth was also affected. At day 90 the fetal femur and metatarsal were longer in underfed mothers (P<0.05). In contrast, the fetal humerus and scapula were shorter in underfed than in well-fed animals on day 135 (P<0.05) when the weight of the semitendinosus muscle (P<0.05) was also reduced. The fall in fetal glucose (P<0.1), insulin (P<0.01) and IGF-I (P<0.01) levels in underfed ewes on day 135 may have compromised fetal growth. Fetal plasma IGF binding protein-2 also increased between days 90 and 135 in underfed ewes (P<0.03), whilst levels were unaltered in well-fed animals. Although maternal and fetal plasma IGF-I levels increased with gestation (P<0.01) and the placentome morphology altered in all ewes (P<0.05), the fall in placental mass (P<0.05), amniotic and allantoic glucose concentrations (P<0.05) and maternal plasma glucose and insulin levels (P<0.05) in underfed ewes in late gestation may have compromised fetal substrate delivery. These perturbations in fetal development may have significant implications on adult health and carcass conformation, raising important health and economic issues in medical and agricultural sectors.

scholarly journals Regulation of placental nutrient transport and implications for fetal growth

2002 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan W Bell ◽  
Richard A Ehrhardt
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Nutrient Transport ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Abnormal Development ◽  
Placental Transport ◽  
Specific Transport

AbstractFetal macronutrient requirements for oxidative metabolism and growth are met by placental transport of glucose, amino acids, and, to a lesser extent that varies with species, fatty acids. It is becoming possible to relate the maternal–fetal transport kinetics of these molecules in vivo to the expression and distribution of specific transporters among placental cell types and subcellular membrane fractions. This is most true for glucose transport, although apparent inconsistencies among data on the roles and relative importance of the predominant placenta glucose transporters, GLUT-1 and GLUT-3, remain to be resolved. The quantity of macronutrients transferred to the fetus from the maternal bloodstream is greatly influenced by placental metabolism, which results in net consumption of large amounts of glucose and, to a lesser extent, amino acids. The pattern of fetal nutrient supply is also altered considerably by placental conversion of glucose to lactate and, in some species, fructose, and extensive transamination of amino acids. Placental capacity for transport of glucose and amino acids increases with fetal demand as gestation advances through expansion of the exchange surface area and increased expression of specific transport molecules. In late pregnancy, transport capacity is closely related to placental size and can be modified by maternal nutrition. Preliminary evidence suggests that placental expression and function of specific transport proteins are influenced by extracellular concentrations of nutrients and endocrine factors, but, in general, the humoral regulation of placental capacity for nutrient transport is poorly understood. Consequences of normal and abnormal development of placental transport functions for fetal growth, especially during late gestation, and, possibly, for fetal programming of postnatal disorders, are discussed.

scholarly journals PSVIII-3 Maternal nutrient restriction during mid-to-late gestation alters adipogenic gene expression in subcutaneous and perirenal adipose tissue of fetal beef cattle offspring

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 304-305
Author(s):  
Dana Reid ◽  
Lauren Ellison ◽  
Kalisha Yankey ◽  
Caleb O Lemley ◽  
Derris Burnett
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Fetal Tissue ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Transcriptional Networks ◽  
Nutrient Restriction ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Perirenal Adipose Tissue

Abstract Proper maternal nutrition during gestation is an important determinant of fetal and long-term developmental programming. Transcriptional networks involved in economically important processes such as adipogenesis and overall growth of the offspring are particularly susceptible to developmental perturbations and programming. Low quality forages or insufficient maternal nutrient supplementation during gestation are scenarios that can negatively affect fetal growth and development by altering the regulation of these networks. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of maternal nutrient restriction during mid-to-late gestation on mRNA expression of genes involved in growth and adipogenesis in fetal back fat (BF), and perirenal adipose tissue (PR). A total of six multiparous, commercial cows were equally divided into one of two dietary treatments: Control (CON; fed 100% of NRC recommendations) vs. Restricted Feed (RES; fed 60% of NRC recommendations) from 140 to 240 days of gestation. The animals were euthanized on day 240 of gestation for fetal tissue collection and qPCR analysis using TaqMan® gene expression assays. Relative mRNA quantification was determined using the Delta-Delta Ct method. Differences between Least Square Means were compared using the PDIFF option of the MIXED procedure of SAS (9.4). PPARg expression was increased (P = 0.009) in BF tissue in the RES group compared to the CON group. IGF-1 expression tended to increase (P = 0.076), and IGF-1R expression tended to decrease (P = 0.055) in fetal BF. In PR tissue, CEBPA and IGF-1 expression decreased (P ≤ 0.043) in RES compared to CON. These findings suggest that as a result of a compromised fetal environment, the PR and BF depots are differentially regulated in a manner that may persist into postnatal life and warrants further investigation.

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