Abstract
BackgroundErgot alkaloids (E+) are mycotoxins produced by the endophytic fungus, Epichloë coenophiala, in tall fescue that are associated with ergotism in animals. Exposure to ergot alkaloids during gestation reduces fetal weight and placental mass in sheep. These reductions are related to vasoconstrictive effects of ergot alkaloids and potential alterations in nutrient transport to the fetus. Cotyledon samples were obtained from eight ewes that were fed E+ (n = 4; E+/E+) or E- (endophyte-free without ergot alkaloids; n = 4; E−/E-) seed during both mid (d 35 to 85) and late (d 85–133) gestation to assess differentially expressed genes associated with ergot alkaloid induced reductions in placental mass and fetal weight, and discover potential adaptive mechanisms to alter nutrient supply to fetus.ResultsEwes fed E+/E+ fescue seed during both mid and late gestation had 20% reduction in fetal body weight and 33% reduction in cotyledon mass compared to controls (E−/E-). Over 13,000 genes were identified with 110 upregulated and 33 downregulated. Four genes had a |log2FC| > 5 for ewes consuming E+/E+ treatment compared to controls: LECT2, SLC22A9, APOC3, and MBL2. REViGO revealed clusters of upregulated genes associated glucose, carbohydrates, lipid, protein, macromolecular and cellular metabolism, regulation of wound healing and response to starvation. For downregulated genes, no clusters were present, but all enriched GO terms were associated with anion and monocarboxylic acid transport. The complement and coagulation cascade and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway were found to be enriched for ewes consuming E+/E+ treatment.ConclusionsConsumption of ergot alkaloids during gestation altered the cotyledonary transcriptome specifically related to macronutrient metabolism, wound healing and starvation. These results show that ergot alkaloid exposure upregulates genes involved in nutrient metabolism to supply the fetus with additional substrates in attempts to rescue fetal growth.
Highlights
Ergot alkaloids (E+) are mycotoxins produced by the endophytic fungus, Epichloë coenophiala, in tall fescue that are associated with ergotism in animals
Placentomes Total placentome weight was 30% lower (P < 0.05) for E+/E+ ewes compared to E−/E-; total placentome number and caruncle weight did not differ due to ergot alkaloid treatment (Table 1)
Fetal weight was 20% lower (P < 0.05) for E+/E+ ewes compared to E−/E
Summary
Ergot alkaloids (E+) are mycotoxins produced by the endophytic fungus, Epichloë coenophiala, in tall fescue that are associated with ergotism in animals. Exposure to ergot alkaloids during gestation reduces fetal weight and placental mass in sheep These reductions are related to vasoconstrictive effects of ergot alkaloids and potential alterations in nutrient transport to the fetus. Cotyledon samples were obtained from eight ewes that were fed E+ (n = 4; E+/E+) or E- (endophyte-free without ergot alkaloids; n = 4; E−/E-) seed during both mid (d 35 to 85) and late (d 85–133) gestation to assess differentially expressed genes associated with ergot alkaloid induced reductions in placental mass and fetal weight, and discover potential adaptive mechanisms to alter nutrient supply to fetus. The majority of tall fescue contains an endophyte (Epichloë coenophiala), which produces ergot alkaloids (i.e. ergovaline, Britt et al BMC Genomics (2020) 21:680 restriction of the fetus [8]; little is known about the mechanisms associated with these changes in the placenta. Establishment of efficient fetal and maternal vascular beds within the placenta is crucial to support the rapid increase in placental blood flow, especially during the later stages of gestation when the majority of fetal growth occurs [14, 15]
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